Well-known analyst believes the 49ers could get this in trade for Mac Jones

Despite recent reports, individuals who cover the San Francisco 49ers seem unconvinced that the club will actually hold onto backup quarterback Mac Jones with starter Brock Purdy fully healthy this offseason. 

During a Wednesday appearance on San Francisco Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game, well-known NFL analyst and insider Brian Baldinger discussed what the 49ers could get in return for Jones and who San Francisco could sign as Jones' replacement on the roster. 

Would a team give up a valuable draft asset for Mac Jones? 

"If a second-round pick for Mac Jones is out there, you might say, 'Okay, we'll take the second-round pick, and we'll go sign Kirk Cousins to be our backup. We'll go sign Geno Smith to be our backup,'" Baldinger explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "...A second-round pick, I might be interested in. You find a starter with a second-round pick that could be a defensive lineman, an offensive guard, a wide receiver. ...You can go find a stud starter in the second round."

Jones has made it known he'd like an opportunity to serve as a club's QB1 after he went 5-3 across eight starts when Purdy was sidelined with a toe issue this season. On paper, the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals are among the teams that could consider giving up a second-round draft pick for a proven quarterback who is under contract through the 2026 campaign.

Meanwhile, Baldinger noted that 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan previously served as Cousins' offensive coordinator with Washington in 2012 and 2013. That said, the Jets and Minnesota Vikings may be willing to hand Cousins a starting job shortly after he is officially released by the Atlanta Falcons.

What team could trade for Mac Jones?

Interestingly, Baldinger thinks a Falcons team that isn't committed to starting Michael Penix Jr. could target Jones. 

"I believe the Atlanta Falcons, now run by (team president of football)  Matt Ryan — I think Matt Ryan looks at Mac Jones and goes, 'He can do, and has done, a lot of the things that I did to become a league MVP.' I believe Mac Jones has value to a team like that — extreme value," Baldinger said. "So if I'm [49ers general manager John Lynch], I'm picking up the phone and calling Matt Ryan, and going, 'Matt, what do you think is his value?'"