When Mac Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2021, he was expected to be the future of the franchise. Now, the quarterback is just a backup, but he has recently impressed in that role. Could the 27-year-old still have a shot at a starting position in the NFL?

Rumors of a possible trade involving Mac Jones have been circulating for quite some time. For some franchises with an uncertain future at the quarterback position, the San Francisco 49ers’ backup is an interesting option.

Now, the 27-year-old has spoken out about his situation himself on the sports radio show “The Rich Eisen Show”: “I love John, I love Kyle. I think this is the best team I’ve ever played for.”

Nevertheless, he doesn’t rule out a move to another franchise: “The trade deadline isn’t until a little later in the season, but anything is possible.”

Mac Jones was once the New England Patriots’ rising star

Mac Jones was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2021 draft and was expected to become the franchise quarterback of the future in Massachusetts following the failed signing of Cam Newton.

In his debut season, Jones impressed with 22 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and 3,801 passing yards. Thanks to these performances, he was selected for the Pro Bowl and finished second behind Ja’Marr Chase in the voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

However, his performance subsequently declined sharply—in the 2023 season, he threw more interceptions (twelve) than touchdowns (ten). The Patriots pulled the plug and traded the former rising star to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.

There, he played in ten games in 2024 as Trevor Lawrence’s backup, but was unable to regain his former form.

Comeback with the San Francisco 49ers

Last season, he signed a two-year contract in San Francisco worth up to seven million dollars—a relatively low sum for a quarterback with starting experience.

After Brock Purdy’s injury, Jones became the “Niners’” starting quarterback and was finally able to show what he was capable of again. In eleven games (eight as a starter), he threw for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions.

John Lynch, the 49ers’ general manager, said regarding a potential trade that the franchise values the quarterback highly and would only trade him if a compelling offer were made.

Too high a price? Which teams want Mac Jones?

According to Eric Branch of the “San Francisco Chronicle,” however, the 49ers are already considering giving last year’s rookie, Kurtis Rourke, enough playing time in training camp to find out if he has what it takes to become their first backup quarterback.

Branch also hinted that San Francisco might be more willing to trade Jones if Rourke shows clear signs of improvement: “The 49ers were already willing to trade QB Mac Jones before the draft, but no team met their reportedly high asking price.”

He continued: “If an injury to a starter prompts a team to dig deep into its pockets, would the 49ers then trade Jones sometime before the November 3 trade deadline? They’d likely do so if Rourke—much like Purdy in 2022—looks like a steal from the seventh round.”

During the NFL Scouting Combine, “The Athletic” reporter Zack Rosenblatt reported that the 49ers are asking for a “second-round pick plus more” for Jones.

That’s no small price for a backup quarterback, especially considering that the Patriots traded him in 2024 for a sixth-round pick.

However, teams like the Colts from last season show that franchises are certainly willing to overpay for players when they have their sights set on the playoffs during the season. Indianapolis, for example, gave up two first-round picks for cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Possible destinations for Jones include the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers.