It's hard to imagine that a former first-round draft pick who looked like a bust during his time with the Patriots could still be viewed as a desirable starter across the league, especially at a position as important as quarterback, but that's the situation Mac Jones appears to be in heading into the 2026 season.
He's already viewed as an impressive backup to Brock Purdy with the 49ers, and there were rumors that they might trade him to a quarterback-needy team this offseason. That hasn't come to fruition just yet, but a new bold prediction suggests it could before this year's trade deadline.
It would be quite a jump from where he was in New England, looking like the team made the wrong decision with their first-round pick in 2021, which ultimately led them to Drake Maye two years ago. And even in his immediate post-Patriots career with the Jaguars, his performance seemed to prove that feeling correct until he turned it all around in San Francisco.
Although he's mostly served as a backup, Jones has had to play in several games for an injured Purdy and recorded 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in eight games last season.
That's enough to make him a lifeline in the mind of Mot Moton of Bleacher Report, specifically for the Panthers, who he predicts will trade for Jones before their 2026 season becomes a complete wash.
Mac Jones might get another chance to be a full-time starter in the NFL this season
Among the five bold predictions Moton makes ahead of the upcoming season, he links the Panthers to Jones as a last-second trade to keep their team afloat after another disappointing showing by Bryce Young.
It's already being reported that Carolina isn't interested in extending Young or keeping him around beyond 2026, and if that's legitimate, they would almost certainly look at someone like Jones as their next starter, or at the very least, a bridge quarterback.
This would give him another chance to be a full-time starter, which hasn't appeared to be in the cards since he left the Patriots two years ago, and could be a way to revitalize the Panthers in an increasingly difficult division.
It wouldn't be a cheap deal, however, as The Athletic's Jeff Howe believes the 49ers would want a first-round pick for Jones. That seems high, considering his output in recent years, but GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan have made it clear that they want to keep Jones around, so it wouldn't be surprising if the only way they let him go is for high draft capital in return.
Whether a team will be willing to forfeit that kind of value for Jones is yet to be seen, but it's possible for a franchise like the Panthers to feel desperate enough to do it.
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