Will Mac Jones ask 49ers for trade amid desire for starting QB job?

Back in January, San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones made it known that he felt he showed this season he can be "a starter in this league." 

The 49ers currently have Jones under contract through the 2026 campaign, meaning he may have to ask for a trade if he wants to enter training camp atop a depth chart. During a Wednesday appearance on NFL Network's "The Insiders" program, Jones addressed his mindset regarding his uncertain future. 

Mac Jones prepared to "see what happens" amid trade rumors

"I always just try to be where my feet are," Jones explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. "What I do know is you've got to be in the right situation. That's definitely what I learned this year, just being in the right offense with playmakers around you. That's important. So, any quarterback that's in free agency or could get traded, or whatever your situation is, you want to go somewhere that fits and makes sense. At the end of the day, that's what I want in San Francisco, and I think we'll see what happens. I think it's good to be talked about, and at the end of the day, I want to just keep playing good ball."

While 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch suggested in January that the team won't actively shop Jones' services, history shows such comments may have been more about increasing what San Francisco could get in return for the 27-year-old than about the club's plans for the offseason. 

As for Jones, he helped save the Niners' 2025 campaign when starter Brock Purdy was dealing with what became a lingering toe issue. In total, Jones went 5-3 across eight starts while running Shanahan's offense. According to Pro Football Reference, Jones ended the regular season ranked 11th in the NFL among qualified players with a 62.3 adjusted QBR and 13th with a 97.4 passer rating. 

Mac Jones understands harsh realities of the business of football

"...If I have to do that again next year, I'll be really excited," Jones said about continuing to develop under Shanahan as a QB2. "I feel like it's a good fit for me. And honestly, it's a business. You know how this goes. And I've proven I can be a starter in multiple different spots. I have 50-plus starts, so I know how to do it, but it's also a business, and I understand both sides of it."

The Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals are among the teams that theoretically could consider trading for Jones either before or after the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway. That said, it sounds like he won't make things awkward behind the scenes if he begins training-camp practices as Purdy's primary backup this summer.