The San Francisco 49ers may have the deepest quarterback room in the league, as Brock Purdy has led the team to multiple NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl, and Mac Jones looked to find himself in his first year with the team.
With Jones entering the final year of his contract with the 49ers, his future has been a question all offseason, with many believing that San Francisco would ship him out in a trade.
While it hasn’t happened yet, there’s a chance that the 49ers pull the trigger around the deadline if a desperate team comes calling. Interestingly, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently identified the Carolina Panthers as a team who might be interested in the middle of the year.
“If Young isn’t the guy, the Panthers should pursue San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones,” Moton wrote. “The Athletic’s Jeff Howe believes the 49ers could demand a first-round pick for Jones. If that’s the case, the Panthers should inquire with the intent to make him their long-term starter, which would end Young’s tenure in Carolina.
“Jones is three years older than Young, but he’s shown the ability to perform at a high level with two different teams—the New England Patriots in his 2021 rookie year and the 49ers last season.”
Jones and Young shared a locker room at Alabama in 2020 before the New England Patriots took Jones in the first round. Young took over as the Crimson Tide’s starter the following year and put himself in position to be the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
If San Francisco could get a Day-2 pick for Jones before he leaves in free agency next offseason, they should consider pulling the trigger, especially if they like what they see from second-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke in training camp and preseason this year.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst predicts 49ers could trade valuable asset to NFC South in 2026
Reporting by Mike Masala, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
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By Mike Masala, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
