When it comes to quarterbacks, the 49ers are one of the most balanced franchises with Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. But as per the latest reports, the latter is one of the most sought-after players in the league. In light of that, head coach Kyle Shanahan could be ready to put up a fight for the quarterback at a steep price.

“I know that Kyle doesn’t want to lose him [Mac Jones],” said a quarterback-seeking high-ranking official via SportsBoom. “I think they’ll put up a pretty good fight. You’re going to have to knock their socks off.”

Jones’ 2,000+ yard 2025 season as a backup QB makes him impossible to overlook. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy suffered turf toe against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. But Jones took over, appearing in eight wins and three losses.

With a QBR of 62.3 and a pass completion rate of almost 70%, he ensured Purdy’s absence was not felt. The 27-year-old had 13 touchdowns and threw just six interceptions in the process.

Similar to Drake Maye, Jones was also a first-round pick. In 2021, he started with the Patriots, and then went to the Jaguars in 2024 as a backup. In 2025, he entered free agency, and the 49ers signed him to a two-year contract worth around $8 million. According to NFL executives, the 49ers signed him to an incredibly cheap backup quarterback deal.

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Jones has already highlighted that he can take the franchise to the playoffs on his shoulders. Should Purdy suffer another injury, Shanahan could easily put his faith in Jones. While the situation points to the HC being reluctant to part with his quarterback, the Minnesota Vikings could be lining up an interesting offer.

The Minnesota Vikings could solve their quarterback problem with Mac Jones

The Minnesota Vikings are in dire need of a quarterback after J.J. McCarthy’s unimpressive second attempt at a first season.

While they are not ready to move on from McCarthy, they could be looking to bring in a quarterback to give him the competition he needs to improve. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has suggested the best trade that could solve the Vikings’ problem.

“Vikings get: QB Mac Jones, 2027 third-round pick,” wrote Adam Schefter. “49ers get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (conditional), 2028 third-round pick (conditional).”

With his insight, Schefter also revealed a possible price for Jones, alerting all his suitors in the NFL.

McCarthy’s numbers did not match the hype this season, but that’s not the real concern. Even this year, he was prone to injury, having missed seven games in 2025. His touchdown-to-interception ratio remained a poor 11:12.

Still, head coach Kevin O’Connell is not ready to let him go. Although former Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter suggested a trade, it is highly unlikely O’Connell will walk that path.

The franchise is already aware of how important a QB2 can be. Darnold practically led the franchise to the playoffs and was let go this season ahead of McCarthy’s return. While the Vikings didn’t qualify this year, Darnold won Super Bowl LX with the Seattle Seahawks.

Getting Jones would solve a major problem for the team. But the question is whether Shanahan and the 49ers would let Jones go. It remains to be seen how far they go to retain him and how much the Vikings are willing to spend for him. But in any case, will Jones be willing to leave a Super Bowl contender for a franchise that is rebuilding?