Don't close the book on a Mac Jones trade just yet. Despite John Lynch's public stance that the 49ers would need a strong offer to part with the former first-round pick, recent reporting suggests the door remains cracked open.
According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco's willingness to trade Jones could hinge on the development of one of their other quarterbacks: rookie Kurtis Rourke. The seventh-round pick out of Indiana, who missed last season due to a knee injury, has the 49ers intrigued.
“The 49ers are intrigued by No. 3 QB Kurtis Rourke, a big-armed 2025 seventh-round pick who was sidelined last year by a knee injury from college,” Branch wrote. The question is whether the team is confident enough to give Rourke additional practice reps typically reserved for backup candidates, to see if he can serve as Brock Purdy's understudy sooner than expected.
Lynch told ESPN.com back in February that the team values Jones and would only move him for a “fairly strong” offer. “He’s really good for us and we value that,” Lynch said. “And so somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider. And then I don’t know what we do. Obviously there’s always something that would make you [do it], but I think we’re a better team with him on it and we just like having him around.”
But Branch points out that the 49ers were willing to trade Jones before the draft, but no team met their asking price. If an injury to a starter prompts a team to pony up, San Francisco could deal Jones before the Nov. 3 trade deadline — provided Rourke, like Purdy in 2022, looks like a seventh-round steal.
The 49ers have a history of turning late-round picks into stars. Just look at how they’ve built their roster, including their pursuit of pass-rushing help. If Rourke shows promise, Jones could become expendable.
For now, the 49ers are in a holding pattern. They like having Jones around, but they also like the idea of developing a young, cheap backup. If Rourke proves he can handle the job, San Francisco might be willing to let Jones go—and give him the starting opportunity he’s been seeking.
