Are the 49ers trying to drive Mac Jones’ value up?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Mac Jones attends The New Heights Party with Jason & Travis Kelce at Thriller Country Club on February 04, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Well, it wouldn't be a San Francisco 49ers offseason without a quarterback storyline. At least this one is something we can all enjoy following, and that's the 49ers' decision on Mac Jones-or an already made decision to hold onto him and not trade him in the offseason.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Saturday that the 49ers still plan to hold onto Jones to be a backup to Brock Purdy in 2026:

For teams looking to swing a deal for 49ers backup QB Mac Jones, I'm told San Francisco is not looking to part with the 2021 first-rounder. Things and offers can change, but the 49ers' preference is to keep their Brock Purdy-Jones tandem intact for 2026. Jones' 5-3 record as a starter amid the team's major injury struggles helped keep San Francisco afloat, and Kyle Shanahan loves what he has in the 27-year-old.

Russini isn't the only one hearing the 49ers are holding onto Jones. ESPN's Adam Schefter put it plainly: He's not getting traded."

Jones filled in for starter Brock Purdy after the latter suffered a turf toe injury in Week 1. While Jones didn't possess the mobility of Purdy (something missed), he showed he could run an offense, and the year under Kyle Shanahan could make all the difference.

The 49ers have Jones under contract for one more year and have not hinted at any interest in trading him. Kyle Shanahan said he'd be very surprised if Jones were traded.

To be fair, Kyle Shanahan also said the 49ers were trading Jimmy Garoppolo, too. That's not deception, that's just changing circumstances. And change they will. Fast.

The circumstance right now is, what do the 49ers get from trading Jones? If a team is offering a fourth or fifth round pick in exchange for a quality backup, that seems like an almost certain No". Chances are, Jones will get a decent free agent contract in 2027, which would open up the compensatory pick formula for the 49ers. I'd imagine, at the absolute worst, the 49ers get a fourth-round pick for Jones via this route.

That said, comp picks are not guaranteed, and trying to assume what the 49ers will receive, even after he signs a deal, usually ends with something else being awarded in reality. But there's no reason to take a fourth-round or fifth-round pick when a team will most likely be signing Jones to be a starter, and the 49ers get their pick a year later.

So could the 49ers simply be doing all of this to drive up his value? Something similar happened with none other than Jimmy Garoppolo. The New England Patriots made it clear they had no plans to trade Garoppolo, despite offers from other teams. They finally sent him to the 49ers for a second-rounder.

One has to think if a team offers a high second or-dare we suggest it-a first round pick, that would have to be enticing to get Jones from the 49ers. He's an experienced quarterback with a cheap one-year deal that could be franchised the following year before a long-term extension is necessary. That alone is worth a high pick. When you have a quarterback who's taken their lumps already in the NFL, that also helps.

It's just a matter of what teams would offer. Given what we're seeing, it doesn't seem like the 49ers are too keen on simply trading Jones, but that also might be driving up the asking price.

Do you think this is all a smokescreen and the 49ers are trying to get a better offer, or do you think there's absolutely no way Jones leaves the team in the offseason?