As many anticipated, the San Francisco 49ers bounced back and returned to the playoffs this season. Yet, as general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan know, nothing is guaranteed year-to-year.
Changes are bound to hit the 49ers again. They may even trade a Pro Bowl player who heavily contributed to their success in 2025.
While offseason discussions thus far have indicated that the 49ers don’t want to trade Mac Jones, who led the team to a 5-3 record this season. That mindset could be changing.
According to The Athletic‘s Matt Barrows, the “stars could be aligning” for the 49ers to trade Jones.
“Still, circumstances are aligning to create an offer that might be hard to refuse.”
Several teams could have an interest in gambling on Jones becoming their starting quarterback. It helps that Jones just spent a season mastering Kyle Shanahan’s playbook, and several teams operate a similar offense.
Barrows speculates that the teams that could have an interest in trading for the former first-round pick include the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota Vikings.
The Cardinals just hired Mike LaFleur, who spent four seasons coaching under Shanahan in San Francisco. Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik spent six seasons coaching under Shanahan. Meanwhile, the Vikings use concepts from Shanahan’s offense that Kevin O’Connell has adapted over the years.
Any of the three teams would make sense if the price is right this offseason. But the 49ers have to be willing to listen too.
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