Mac market quiet as 49ers weigh mac Jones trade this week

mac Jones has drawn little sustained trade interest coming out of the NFL Combine, and the San Francisco 49ers are expected to seek final clarity on his future before the legal tampering period begins on March 9 ET. That window matters because it will shape how the 49ers approach free agency and whether they convert Jones’s controllable contract into draft capital.

Mac market remains quiet at combine

Scouts and executives who attended the combine did not place Jones near the top of their quarterback lists this cycle. Several teams appear focused on low-cost free-agent options or draft-day solutions rather than trading for a backup who would require draft compensation. Even though Jones stepped in last season and won multiple starts, his name was not a frequent topic in the usual discussions about quarterback moves.

mac contract and trade value

The 49ers signed Jones to a two-year deal that gives the team control over his rights for 2026, and he is due to make $3. 25 million in that season. That affordability makes him attractive on paper, but any acquiring team that planned to make him a starter or genuine contender for the job may seek a new contract, which complicates trade talks. Team decision-makers are weighing whether the certainty of Jones’s controlled price outweighs the need to surrender draft capital for a known quantity.

49ers timeline and next steps

San Francisco’s front office and coaching staff have said publicly they expect Jones to remain with the team, but league practice often sees clubs solicit offers for depth pieces before free agency to clarify roster construction. The 49ers face holes they may want to fill with either veteran free agents or additional draft picks. If a meaningful offer — discussed in terms of second- or third-round compensation — appears this week, the team could move Jones before the start of legal tampering on March 9 ET. If not, the club is positioned to keep an affordable backup who has demonstrated competence in the offense.

Observers note the club could also wait until the draft to transact, but that approach risks reducing the pool of suitors as teams commit to rookies or address needs in free agency. The combine appears to have narrowed the market rather than expanded it, so the coming days will likely determine whether a deal happens before the tampering window or whether Jones remains the 49ers’ insurance policy into the season.

Key takeaways

• Mac Jones has seen limited trade interest after the combine.
• The 49ers control Jones’s rights through a two-year deal; he is scheduled to make $3. 25 million in 2026.
• Expect final offers and a decision ahead of the legal tampering period beginning March 9 ET.