The San Francisco 49ers were ground zero for Sam Darnold turning his NFL career around. After spending the 2023 NFL season as a backup for the Niners, he’s had back-to-back impressive seasons with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and now with the Seattle Seahawks.
With Darnold’s success, some are wondering whether Mac Jones can follow that same path. Jones showed flashes of being a QB1 when Brock Purdy was injured during the 2025 season.
Jones had a passer rating of 97.4 with 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 regular-season games for the 49ers, per StatMuse. Moreover, Jones is under contract for next season, so any team keen on him will need to trade with San Francisco.
Amid speculation about Jones, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the 49ers can command a high asking price given Darnold’s success.
“There’s going to be so many places that are going to want a starting-caliber quarterback,” Orlovsky said during a Feb. 4 appearance on KNBR. “We know the draft isn’t deep. I think the No. 1 free agent is more than likely Malik Willis. If you’re the 49ers and you have these teams calling you, are you going to maybe get a second-round pick for Mac, a third-round pick? I have no idea, but I’m not going to be shocked by it.”
49ers Urged to Trade Mac Jones
Moreover, Orlovsky believes that the Niners could use the assets from a Jones trade to get younger or perhaps use what they acquire in a trade to parlay it into a bigger move.
“I think that Mac in his camp will probably be trying to have a conversation with the 49ers to do right by him in that regard,” Orlovsky added. “I think the 49ers have to because of the reality of where their roster is, and they are getting older in some key parts and faced health concerns in the past. If you can get value for a guy now in comparison to very little for him next year, I think you have to entertain it.”
Could the Niners Make a Big Time Trade This Offseason?
The Niners will have an improved pass rush next season after tallying only 20 sacks during the 2025 campaign. While speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, former NFL player Shawne Merriman believes that San Francisco need to go for a home-run trade to land a premier pass rusher from either the Cleveland Browns or Las Vegas Raiders.
“If I’m the San Francisco 49ers this offseason, I’m going to take a run at Myles Garrett; I’m taking a run at Maxx Crosby [and] I’m taking a run at these guys because they’re an instant upgrade,” Merriman told Maiocco.
“Nick Bosa comes back and nobody’s going to know how it is because what, his second or third injury now? I’ve been there, and after enough injuries you’re not the same player. I’m not saying this is going to be the case with him, but there should be some level of concern from the San Francisco 49ers front office on how he’s going to come back.”
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