San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch has been known to chase after star players, and he isn’t afraid to execute big trades to get the job done. Yet, sometimes, the 49ers’ roster-building tactics leave them with players who could go on to have bigger roles, or even starting jobs elsewhere.
Thus, in those cases, it is often in the 49ers’ best interest to consider trading some of their players, even if they’ve played a key role in winning games. In this case, the 49ers could benefit by trading one of their backups for a draft pick that ends up becoming a key part of the team’s core in years to come.
Specifically, The Athletic‘s Matt Barrows suggested that the 49ers could end up getting an offer “they can’t refuse” for Mac Jones.
“Bottom line: I think the trade market for Jones will be robust, and there’s a good chance they’ll get an offer they can’t refuse.”
The Athletic on Mac Jones
Barrows added that a second-round pick or a third-round selection, “and a sweetener,” may be the necessary cost to get a Jones trade completed.
The 49ers signed Jones, a former first-round pick, to a two-year contract worth a $8.4 million last offseason. They ended up relying on the backup to make eight starts, and he’d lead the 49ers to a respectable 5-3 record in the process, doing his part to help them return to the playoffs.
Now, Jones, who is coming off a career-best season where he completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 TDs, and 6 interceptions, is expected to be a popular trade target this offseason. Though, the 49ers have indicated that the 27-year-old former Pro Bowl QB isn’t available.
It’s a game of chicken for now, but that’s where a strong offer, or as Barrows notes, one too good to refuse, could change the 49ers’ plans. For a team hunting for their next potential franchise QB, Jones may be worth the gamble.
Related: Potential NFL Rule Change Makes Blockbuster Trades More Likely
