The Indianapolis Colts might be in the market for a quarterback to start Week 1 of the 2026 season. Maybe the team re-signs Daniel Jones and hopes he can return from tearing an Achilles tendon by the beginning of next season. Or maybe Indy makes a trade and brings in someone like Mac Jones.
That is what ESPN's Dan Graziano teased in a recent article discussing Jones' future situation with his current team, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are set at quarterback with Brock Purdy. He has a hefty contract that pays him through 2030, and he's been exceedingly successful on the field.
Jones was a first-round bust with his first team, the New England Patriots, but played well this season when Purdy missed games with an injury. Jones is signed through 2026 on a very inexpensive contract. San Francisco would be a real winner by trading him because the player or draft capital that would be brought back would be of more value than Jones himself.
Indianapolis Colts tipped to make a potential move for quarterback Mac Jones
The simple reason is that the 49ers hope Jones never plays because they would rather Purdy play. Jones is simply a luxury to have, one who completed 69.6 percent of his passes in eight starts with a quarterback rating of 97.4.
He also likely has the skill set to run head coach Shane Steichen's system well, quite comparable to Daniel Jones in terms of arm talent and athleticism. The difference is that Jones has had three seasons cut short because of injury. Jones tends to stay healthy.
Graziano doesn't specifically say that Jones would absolutely be the starter for the Colts next season if the team were to acquire him, but the assumption would be that he would beat out Anthony Richardson, just as Jones did, but Daniel Jones might not be re-signed.
"Mac Jones is under contract with the 49ers for next year at $2.8 million," Graziano said, "but the way he played in relief of Brock Purdy this season has people wondering what it would take to trade for him (and presumably pay him more) to come in and compete for a starting role. There are plenty of teams with unsettled 2026 quarterback situations (Colts? Steelers?), which could look to a 27-year-old former first-round pick who has been through the Kyle Shanahan career rehab program as part of their potential solution."
The Kyle Shanahan part is key. Many quarterbacks have not worked out elsewhere, spent some time with the 49ers, and then been much better elsewhere. Sam Darnold is one prime example. Mac Jones could be the next.
The biggest question for general manager Chris Ballard (assuming he still has a job after the season) is how much trade capital he would give up for Mac Jones. The team doesn't have a first-round draft pick in the next two years after giving those to the New York Jets in exchange for Sauce Gardner.
Not that Jones would be worthy of a first-round choice, but not having one means the Colts have to hit on the picks they have remaining.
In other words, if the San Francisco 49ers want no worse than a third-round draft pick for Jones, the Indianapolis Colts will probably have to pass. That would gut an already suspect draft and leave the team with a choice in the second round, and then the fourth round and after.