5 Teams That Should Consider Acquiring QB Mac Jones Before the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline

The San Francisco 49ers have placed a high value on Mac Jones, though he could be expendable if the team sees flashes out of its third-string quarterback.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch, the 49ers might give Kurtis Rourke enough reps at training camp to find out if he's capable of becoming their primary backup signal-caller. 

Branch also suggested San Francisco may be more willing to trade Jones if Rourke shows notable signs of development:

"The 49ers were willing to trade QB Mac Jones before the draft, but no team met their reportedly steep asking price. If an injury to a starter prompts a team to pony up, would the 49ers deal Jones at some point before the trade deadline on Nov. 3? They likely would if Rourke, like Purdy in 2022, resembles a seventh-round steal."

While at the NFL Scouting Combine, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt heard that the 49ers want a "second-round pick plus more" for Jones.

Although that's steep trade value for a backup quarterback who's been on three teams since 2023, general managers will take risks if their club is in the middle of a playoff push.

By the way, Jones played at a Pro Bowl level in his rookie campaign and helped lead the 49ers to a 5-3 record, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He can be a starting-caliber player with a quality play-caller.

With that in mind, here are five teams that should consider trading for Jones under the premise that these clubs are pushing for playoff spots with a struggling quarterback, and the 49ers demand a second-round pick.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Michael Penix Jr. (left) and Tua Tagovailoa

The Atlanta Falcons have been stuck in mediocrity for a half-decade, finishing with seven or eight wins every year between 2021 and 2025.

Heading into training camp, they'll have a quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. However, the winner of that battle may not get them over the hump and into the postseason.

Both Penix and Tagovailoa have extensive injury histories, which leads to questions about their short-term outlooks. 

Last season, Penix struggled with his accuracy, completing fewer than 60 percent of his passes in four of nine starts. Tagovailoa peaked in his 2023 Pro Bowl season, throwing for a league-leading 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, but he hasn't come close to matching that level of passing production over the last two years.

If Atlanta is again around the .500 mark before the trade deadline, it should make an offer for Jones. 

In terms of durability, Jones would be a far more reliable quarterback than Penix and Tagovailoa. Also, by Week 1, he'll be the same age as Tagovailoa and just two years older than Penix, who's in his third season. The Falcons wouldn't give up on much upside if they pursue the 49ers' sixth-year veteran signal-caller.

On a one-year, $1.4 million base salary, Jones wouldn't cost much against the salary cap, which makes him a feasible acquisition for a middling team in one of the weaker divisions across the league.

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Bryce Young

We'll revisit our bold prediction for Jones' landing spot. The Carolina Panthers make sense, despite pushback from those who believe the team should focus on the 2027 quarterback class if Bryce Young struggles this year.

Yes, most general managers will be salivating over next year's quarterback class, but Panthers' owner David Tepper has shown a tendency to be impulsive in the recent past.

Furthermore, remember that this scenario applies if the Panthers have a chance to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons but aren't quite satisfied with Young's production. 

Instead of pushing through the campaign with a signal-caller who's clearly not the franchise guy, it wouldn't hurt to swap a second-round pick for Jones. Carolina could have the best of both worlds, acquiring a potential upgrade at quarterback while keeping its first-round pick for a chance at a top prospect in next year's draft.

It's worth noting that Jones finished with a better passer rating and QBR than Young last season. 

Jones played under respected play-calling head coach Kyle Shanahan in 2025. That said, he also played well in the final four weeks of the 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing for six touchdowns and three interceptions while averaging 235 passing yards.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Shedeur Sanders (left) and Deshaun Watson

Quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are in a battle for the Cleveland Browns' starting job. According to The Athletic's Zac Jackson, neither has taken the lead as the front-runner in the competition.

If neither of the two impresses through training camp, the Browns can take an early swing at a potential upgrade in Jones.

Cleveland's offense is in complete transition with an entirely new starting offensive line and two rookie wide receivers in KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, who could take on prominent roles. 

So, it would be best for the front office to make a quick decision if it considers acquiring another quarterback, which would allow the newcomer more time to acclimate himself within a young, unsettled group.

With two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, the Browns can still eye top prospects while trying to win games in the upcoming term.

Jones would have a year to reinvent himself as a starter. If he plays through a solid season, the Browns can either retain him or shop the veteran signal-caller to quarterback-needy teams that miss out on top 2027 prospects.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Abbie Parr

Kyler Murray

The Minnesota Vikings made a low-risk, high-reward move in signing quarterback Kyler Murray, who's only under contract for the 2026 season. He's the favorite to win the starting job over J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.

Though even if Murray has a bounce-back year, the Vikings may not keep him around for the long term. Remember, they allowed Sam Darnold to walk after his first Pro Bowl campaign. 

Minnesota can get ahead of the rising cost of the quarterback market by acquiring Jones and signing him to an extension after the 2026 term if Murray does enough to spike his 2027 market value.

Jones will also be a free agent next year, but he won't be able to demand as much as a starting quarterback with decent passing numbers. 

The Vikings could make the playoffs with Murray, which would likely push them out of range for a top 2027 quarterback prospect. Instead of earmarking significant cap space for him or hoping for a trade-up in next year's draft, they can acquire and extend Jones to stabilize their quarterback room.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers told reporters this will be his last season. So, the Pittsburgh Steelers know they need a quarterback succession plan regardless of how the 2026 campaign pans out.

In 2025, Rodgers helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs. If he has another respectable year, this year's squad could win nine or 10 games. As a stable franchise typically in the postseason mix, the Steelers haven't had a top-10 draft pick since 2019. If that trend continues, Pittsburgh will miss out on top quarterback prospects in 2027.

So, the Steelers should be one of the more aggressive teams in pursuit of Jones. 

Keep in mind that Mason Rudolph will be a free agent in 2027 and may be a trade or cut candidate with rookie third-rounder Drew Allar on the roster. Will Howard, a 2025 sixth-rounder, has yet to play in a regular-season game. 

According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Pittsburgh's coaching staff is "uninstalling" everything Allar learned in college. There's no guarantee that he'll be ready to play next season or become a viable starter. The Steelers can acquire Jones to back up Rodgers this year and extend him with the intent of starting him in 2027.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.