If the 49ers plan to trade Mac Jones, expect a deal this week

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Should the 49ers move Mac Jones, a transaction is anticipated to occur rapidly.

Very quickly.

While General Manager John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan have publicly stated their expectation that the backup quarterback will stay with San Francisco through 2026, NFL GMs and coaches seldom reveal trade plans in advance. They recognize Jones’s vital contribution to their 2025 accomplishments and acknowledge that the ex-Patriots starter is the optimal choice to support Brock Purdy.

However, team rosters aren’t built solely around reserve players. The 49ers face roster deficiencies, require additional draft capital, and seek resolution before free agency commences. 

Therefore, it is in the 49ers’ best interest to collect last offers for Jones this week and decide whether to retain or trade him before the legal tampering period begins on March 9.

In the previous offseason, the Seahawks finalized a trade for Geno Smith to the Raiders on March 7. In 2023, Derek Carr, a free agent, joined the Saints on March 6. The Seahawks also sent Russell Wilson to the Broncos on March 8, 2022. And precisely two years prior, the Patriots arranged Jones’s transfer from their team to the Jaguars on March 10.

All these transactions occurred prior to the start of free agency, which acts as an informal cutoff for teams aiming to establish their quarterback situation. The 49ers wish to begin next week with a clear understanding of whether they’ll require a replacement for Jones (potentially Zach Wilson), and any team acquiring Jones intends to leverage him as an asset to attract potential new players.

Wide receivers might be hesitant to join J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, but Jones’s presence would make the Vikings’ recruitment more appealing. Furthermore, a trade enables a team to discuss a possible contract extension before free agency, providing financial clarity. 

Should no compelling offers emerge, the 49ers are likely to retain Jones. His contract is favorable, he has demonstrated proficiency within Shanahan’s scheme, and there’s little justification to trade a capable backup for a mid-round draft pick unlikely to contribute significantly next season.

The 49ers also have the option to delay Jones’s trade until the NFL Draft, though this strategy might complicate their free agency plans. 

Were the team to trade their backup quarterback for a second- or third-round pick this week, Lynch and Shanahan might forego signing a veteran offensive or defensive lineman in free agency, choosing instead to fill that void during the draft. However, if the 49ers postpone trading Jones until late April, they might face a smaller market of interested teams, as some clubs could commit to drafting a rookie quarterback. 

It’s probable the 49ers utilized the NFL Combine to gauge genuine interest in Jones from various teams. They are expected to solicit definitive offers over the coming days and should finalize their decision on Jones’s future by week’s end. 

Circumstances can evolve, and fresh insights might eventually reopen negotiations, but presently, the 49ers are poised to resolve their backup quarterback situation shortly.