49ers trade – Mac Jones is entering the second year of his two-year deal as Brock Purdy’s backup, but the 49ers won’t rule out a trade—especially if a 2025 seventh-round pick shows enough progress.
Mac Jones played well enough in the eight games he started for the 49ers last season that the offseason could have offered him a cleaner path elsewhere—if he’d been a free agent this year.
Instead, Jones is heading into the second year of his two-year contract, which keeps him in the familiar role as Brock Purdy’s backup. The door might still not be fully closed, though, and the shift comes down to one key question: how ready is the next option?
At the start of the offseason, 49ers general manager John Lynch made the stance clear—Jones wouldn’t be traded unless the team received a strong offer. After the draft came and went without a trade, the assumption hardened that Jones wasn’t going anywhere.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the picture could change if the 49ers believe their plan for 2025 quarterback depth is moving quickly. In particular, the team is said to be willing to trade Jones if they see enough development from 2025 seventh-round draft pick Kurtis Rourke.
There’s also a practical pull to Jones’ profile. His base salary of $1.4 million this season would make him attractive to any team that needs a quarterback but doesn’t have much salary cap room. That kind of fit can matter quickly in the NFL—because the league’s quarterback needs don’t arrive on a schedule.
A Jones trade, if it happens, likely wouldn’t come until another team loses its starting quarterback to an injury. That part is familiar NFL rhythm, and the 49ers know it as well as anyone. If it plays out again this year. the team may be ready to answer that call—depending on what they see from Rourke next.
Mac Jones San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy Kurtis Rourke John Lynch NFL quarterback trade 2025 seventh-round pick salary cap
So basically they’re keeping Mac Jones until someone gets hurt? NFL is wild.
I don’t get it, 49ers just sign him and now they might trade him over a 7th round pick?? Like who even is Kurtis Rourke lol.
Wait I thought Mac Jones was already better than Purdy or whatever. If the backup can play “well” why would they trade him at all? Sounds like Lynch just wants more picks.
1.4 million is cheap so of course teams would want him, but also if he’s backup forever why not cut him?? The headline says “door may not be closed” but then it’s like… he’s definitely not going anywhere unless a miracle happens with Rourke, right?