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Mac Jones of the San Francisco 49ers.
Mac Jones has done exactly what you want your backup quarterback to do: He’s stepped in for injured starter Brock Purdy, played well and won games.
He just out-dueled Matthew Stafford on Thursday night, throwing for 342 yards and two TDs in an OT win against the Rams. Could that recent success give Jones a real market on the trade block?
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes that while Kyle Shanahan clearly values Jones, another QB-needy team out there might make San Francisco an offer it can’t refuse. “It’s hard to envision a scenario where Shanahan lets Jones escape his grasp as the team’s top insurance policy under center,” Benjamin wrote, adding:
“In fact, it might not be much longer before some reasonable minds begin to suggest Jones actually warrants an extended opportunity as the top signal-caller, given Purdy’s injury and turnover woes in the last year-plus. But Jones’ efficient run as the emergency starter will almost assuredly have other teams sniffing around his availability, especially with the NFL’s in-season trade deadline looming.”
Trade Proposal From CBS Sports Swaps Mac Jones & Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson
GettyA new trade proposal swaps Mac Jones and a likely additional pick for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson.
Over in Cincinnati, Joe Burrow is sidelined with a Grade 3 turf-toe injury and multiple reports point to an absence measured in months, not weeks. Jake Browning has struggled in relief (13 combined points over two games, five INTs in three starts), and while Zac Taylor is publicly backing him, that may change if the offense keeps sputtering.
Jones is a timing/rhythm passer who thrives off play action and the quick game. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins just waiting for a functional QB to throw their way, it’s easy to see why Jones might be attractive to the Bengals.
Considering San Francisco’s current need for pass rush help, Benjamin thinks a Jones/pick swap for DE Trey Hendrickson might work for both teams.
In this scenario, the 49ers would almost certainly have to send a pick back to Cincinnati along with Jones,” Benjamin also noted.
Would the 49ers Really Make a Move Like This?
Hendrickson is a definite game-changer, there’s no doubt about it. He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 (matching his 17.5 in 2023) and he plays with the kind of relentless motor Robert Saleh loves.
“With Nick Bosa lost to a season-ending injury, San Francisco would likely welcome Hendrickson’s pocket-chasing prowess with open arms,” Benjamin wrote. The Bengals, meanwhile, need someone — anyone — to bring stability at quarterback while Joe Burrow heals from another serious injury. Jones’ experience as a pure pocket passer might at least unlock Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins enough to keep the team above water. Given his current contract runs through 2026, Jones could also stick around as Burrow’s top backup next year.”
But here’s the thing: the 49ers are winning with Jones right now, and Purdy’s return timeline isn’t set in stone. Dealing him would be a questionable move unless Purdy’s return is imminent.
The Bengals just raised Hendrickson’s 2025 salary, giving him a $14 million raise for the current season. At around $30 million, he’d be a very expensive one-year addition, although the Niners would also have the option of re-signing him if he were to play well under Saleh.
The Niners need to help fill the void left by Bosa, to be sure, but they’re probably not going to do it at the expense of Jones.
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