The New England Patriots are in an excellent spot, QB-wise. Drake Maye proved he's one of the league's best players with an MVP runner-up season, while Josh Dobbs is among the league's best backups. Despite minimal career playtime, QB3 Tommy DeVito has a career 65.3% completion rate with 9 total touchdowns to 3 interceptions.
While New England's quarterback set up is pretty set in stone now, it hasn't always been that way. Back in 2023, two years after Mac Jones was selected, he and Bailey Zappe were in a QB battle for a team that finished 4-13.
While Zappe has remained a depth piece, Jones has revitalized his career following a nice season with the Niners this year. The former No. 15 pick is now considered one of the top trade targets around the league for quarterback-needy teams.
ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes Jones is a centerpiece in a fascinating trade that would send him to Minnesota for a handful of high-quality draft picks.
J.J. McCarthy may not be the answer for the Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy has been one of the more disapointing first round picks in recent memory. After being sidelined due to injury his entire rookie season, the Michigan standout struggled to succeed Sam Darnold in his second season.
He totaled 15 touchdowns to 12 turnovers with a 57.6% completion rate, and he threw more picks than he did touchdowns. He's yet to have more than 250 yards in a game, and the Vikings averaged 19.9 PPG with him at the helm.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that a team with such talented weapons will look to add quarterback insurance this offseason. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and an offensive line that's seen heavy investment is an excellent environment for a QB, be that McCarthy or otherwise.
Mac Jones could be traded to the Minnesota Vikings
Barnwell suggests the Vikings send a package of picks to the 49ers for Jones. It would be the second time a Niners backup would be acquired by Minnesota to be the starter in the last three seasons.
The trade would send Jones and a third-round pick in 2027 to Minnesota for a second-round pick in the upcoming draft, along with conditional fifth and third-round picks in 2027 and 2028.
Barnwell suggests that if Jones starts 4+ games in 2026, the Vikings would send their fifth-round pick to California. If he starts 12 or more games, that pick becomes a third-rounder. Further, if he re-signs with the Vikings in 2027, the Vikings would acquire a third-round pick.
In other words, the Vikings would move back from the second to the third round to acquire Jones. If he takes the league by storm, however, they would send two more picks as high as the third round to San Francisco.
During Jones' career with New England, he threw for 8,918 yards, totaling 47 touchdowns and 37 turnovers. He was 20-25 during the regular season and lost his only playoff game to the Bills, 47-17.
If Jones can return to the form he showed in his rookie season, when he placed second in OROY voting, Minnesota's fortunes could quickly shift.