NFL Rumors: 49ers Set Huge Asking Price for Mac Jones

March 11, 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones runs with the ball during 2026 game.

Trade buzz around San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones is starting to pick up across the league, but teams interested in acquiring him may need to bring a massive offer. 

Multiple reports say the 49ers have placed what insiders are calling an “astronomical” asking price on the former first-round pick, indicating the team has little interest in moving their valuable backup unless the return is overwhelming.

Mac Jones Trade Market Heating Up

According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, several teams have contacted San Francisco about the possibility of a Mac Jones trade, but the response from the 49ers has been consistent. 

The price is extremely high.

Jones became one of the more intriguing backup quarterbacks in the league during the 2025 season when he stepped in for injured starter Brock Purdy. 

The 27-year-old appeared in 11 games and started eight, completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while guiding San Francisco to a 5-3 record in his starts. 

His steady play kept the 49ers in the playoff race and makes sense why the team values him so highly behind Purdy.

49ers Value Mac Jones as Elite Backup

San Francisco’s steep demands make sense considering how important the backup quarterback role has become in today’s NFL. 

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have both emphasized that the team is better with Jones on the roster, especially given Purdy’s injury history.

Jones also comes with a very team-friendly contract. The 49ers signed him to a two-year, $8.4 million deal, making him one of the most affordable experienced quarterbacks in the league. 

That gives the 49ers little motivation to move him unless a team presents a blockbuster offer that could potentially include a second-round pick or significant draft capital.

Before landing in San Francisco, Jones built an interesting resume across the league. 

The New England Patriots selected him 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft after a dominant career at Alabama that included a national championship in 2020. 

Jones then made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after leading New England to the playoffs. After stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars and now the 49ers, he has quietly rebuilt his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable quarterback insurance policies.

For now, San Francisco appears perfectly comfortable keeping Jones in that role. Unless another team is willing to meet the 49ers’ sky-high price tag, the most likely outcome is Jones remaining in the Bay Area as Purdy’s backup for the 2026 season.

Photo Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

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