New Headline: Vikings Target Proven Passer Mac Jones as Top-Qualified Free Agency Option
The Minnesota Vikings were believed to be in the market for Mac Jones, but his asking price may have been too high to facilitate a trade.
The Minnesota Vikings entered this offseason in search of a quarterback. Before Kyler Murray was expected to be released, the free agent pool of signal-callers was underwhelming at best. That led some to believe the Vikings could try acquiring a quarterback in a trade.
Two years after signing Sam Darnold, who had spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco 49ers, there was a belief that Minnesota could once again look to Kyle Shanahan's roster for their answer. Mac Jones spent the 2025 season with the 49ers, filling in admirably for Brock Purdy in eight starts. Jones completed a career-high 69.
6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Most importantly, he helped keep the 49ers in the playoff hunt, going 5-3. That was solid value after signing a two-year, $7 million contract in the 2025 offseason.
And that made Jones appealing to bring back to San Francisco for another season, giving them plenty of leverage if other teams called inquiring about a trade. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the 49ers' asking price for Jones was "astronomical". There was a belief that, entering free agency, the cost for Jones could be a Day 2 pick.