San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones loosens up earlier than a highway recreation in opposition to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The previous first-round passer ready for motion on November 2, 2025, as his future function remained a subject of debate across the league getting into the second half of the season. Necessary Credit score: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Pictures.
Earlier than Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March, some followers and media members believed Minnesota may swing a commerce for San Francisco 49ers QB2 Mac Jones because the quarterback insurance coverage behind J.J. McCarthy in 2026.
Jones to Minnesota turned moot in a rush when Murray signed on the Vikings’ dotted line, however now, due to Bleacher Report, the Jones rumor mill has resurged.
Bleacher Report Says Vikings Might Revisit the Jones Choice
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones delivers a move in opposition to the New Orleans Saints throughout motion at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The veteran passer made performs by means of the air on September 14, 2025, whereas dealing with beginning duties for San Francisco through the early portion of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Stephen Lew-Imagn Pictures.
BR: Vikings Ought to Contemplate Buying and selling for Jones
Groups just like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns made the minimize on Mo Moton’s record that detailed commerce locations for Jones, and the Vikings weren’t excluded.
He wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings made a low-risk, high-reward move in signing quarterback Kyler Murray, who’s only under contract for the 2026 season. He’s the favorite to win the starting job over J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.”
“Though even if Murray has a bounce-back year, the Vikings may not keep him around for the long term. Remember, they allowed Sam Darnold to walk after his first Pro Bowl campaign. Minnesota can get ahead of the rising cost of the quarterback market by acquiring Jones and signing him to an extension after the 2026 term if Murray does enough to spike his 2027 market value.”
Jones performed marvelously in 2025 when Brock Purdy received harm.
“Jones will also be a free agent next year, but he won’t be able to demand as much as a starting quarterback with decent passing numbers. The Vikings could make the playoffs with Murray, which would likely push them out of range for a top 2027 quarterback prospect,” Moton continued.
“Instead of earmarking significant cap space for him or hoping for a trade-up in next year’s draft, they can acquire and extend Jones to stabilize their quarterback room.”
Jones’ Profession Manufacturing
Jones’s profession has unfolded in three distinct chapters. His rookie season in New England prompt a really promising future as a long-term starter, as he amassed 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, even main the Patriots to the playoffs. However subsequent seasons noticed a decline in each his efficiency and the staff’s success. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he registered a much less spectacular 24 touchdowns in opposition to 23 interceptions — so, a sophomore stoop that didn’t finish.
A recent begin arrived in 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Patriots moved on, the place Jones began 7 video games and stabilized his play sufficient to stay related. The true check, nonetheless, arrived in San Francisco. In 2025, he began 8 video games whereas Brock Purdy was injured, going 5-3. Throughout that interval, Jones accomplished a formidable 69.6% of his passes, throwing for two,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones fires downfield in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals through the first half at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Jones directed the offense on September 21, 2025, whereas making one other begin for San Francisco and persevering with a productive stretch through the center portion of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Pictures.
Throughout 5 seasons, Jones has collected 12,741 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions. Whereas he could not fulfill the “franchise savior” expectations as soon as held for him, his displayed stable play that emulated Malik Willis final yr in Inexperienced Bay.
Moton thinks the Vikings are an possibility for that story.
In all probability a 2027 Free Company Thought if Vikings’ QBs Fail
Moton’s article outlines groups that ought to commerce for Jones by November’s commerce deadline. By then, Minnesota will know the early returns from the Murray experiment or how McCarthy is trending in 12 months No. 3. Relying on quarterback accidents across the league, San Francisco will probably price-gouge Jones, solely promoting if it could actually seize a 2nd- or Third-Rounder, for instance. He’s probably the greatest backup passers within the league, and Purdy isn’t essentially Iron Man. The 49ers gained’t promote brief.
In the meantime, Minnesota has a brand new normal supervisor, Nolan Teasley, who most likely isn’t wanting to peddle his draft picks earlier than choosing a single rookie. Teasley took over just a few weeks in the past; Rob Brzezinski steered the ship throughout April’s draft.
If Murray and McCarthy wholly fail in 2026, Jones is a talker for the Vikings through the 2027 offseason — when he will likely be “free” in free company. Why donate a good-looking draft decide to San Francisco in November when Minnesota may, theoretically, signal Jones outright in March?
One other Sam Darnold within the Making?
A staff will give Jones a shot on the QB1 job earlier than too lengthy. Primarily based on his 2025 manufacturing — 8 begins — he’d financial institution 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions when scaled to 17 video games.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet after their recreation at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The 2 veteran passers shared a second on the sector following the December 15, 2024 matchup, with Jones closing his season in Jacksonville earlier than later becoming a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Necessary Credit score: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Pictures.
In a league that re-empowered Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield to thrive — the aforementioned Willis could also be subsequent in Miami — Jones gained’t be excluded from second possibilities. One may argue that he performed simply in addition to Purdy final season.
It is probably not the Vikings, particularly through commerce in 2026, however Jones’s story is much from over. He may very well be the go-to man through commerce this season when a QB1 from a Tremendous Bowl contender inevitably will get harm.
Jones will flip 28 in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
