Jets lose another QB trade target right before Super Bowl LX

As New York Jets fans try to find a quarterback that can help new offensive coordinator Frank Reich run his offense, the idea of acquiring yet another 2021 NFL Draft bust in Mac Jones has some appeal after he got his career back on track with the San Francisco 49ers last season.

Unfortunately, fans who have been jersey-swapping Jones into Jets green may need to let that particular dream go by the wayside, as all signs point to his current team refusing the allure of an extra draft pick and keeping him in town for the 2026 season.

In the hours before Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers let the rest of the football world know that they have no interest in trading away Jones. San Francisco intends to have him back up Brock Purdy once again.

The Jets already had to be cursing the fact that they need to look through a very thin and uninspiring market of free agent options as they try to find a replacement for Justin Fields, but this decision is only going to make the matter of finding a new signal-caller more difficult.

Jets can't trade for Mac Jones as 49ers declare they won't move him

Jones completed just under 70% of his passes last year in San Francisco, throwing 13 touchdowns against just six interceptions. The 49ers went 5-3 in Jones' starts, which included a few big wins against some of their division rivals. His pro stock has never been higher.

With Sam Darnold having made it to the Super Bowl after years of tutelage from Kyle Shanahan and coaching tree confidant Kevin O'Connell, teams like the Jets are hopeful that this offense's most recent developmental success story could bring the same whiff of success their way.

However, Jones' history away from Shanahan's watchful eye leaves a ton to be desired. Jones was so bad in his three seasons in New England that he put the Patriots in a position to select AFC Champion Drake Maye. Over three prior seasons with New England and Jacksonville, Jones almost had as many interceptions (31) as touchdown passes (32).

The Jets will need to look toward either veteran bridge options or young quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft, as the idea of adding Jones and trying to make a run at a vastly improved season seems to have gone by the wayside.