Quarterbacks are dropping league-wide, and the backup market just became the most important market in football. That is why Mac Jones sits at the top of every realistic trade board right now.
The 49ers have him. Somebody is going to want him badly. And San Francisco has every reason to take the call.
Mac Jones Is the Rare Backup Worth a Real Pick
Jones is heading for free agency in 2027, which means the 49ers have him for this season and then lose him for nothing. The projected return is a conditional 2027 second-round pick, and that number is not crazy given what has already happened at quarterback around the league.
Starters are going down weekly. Teams that were comfortable with their QB2 in August are now discovering exactly how uncomfortable that position is in September.
A quarterback with 40-plus career starts who can run a functional NFL offense is worth more in October than any receiver on this list.
Jerry Jeudy Is the Best Value Play
Jeudy is sliding down Cleveland’s depth chart behind younger receivers and carries a $1.5 million base salary this year. That combination is a gift for any contender short on pass-catchers.
The projected cost is a conditional 2027 fourth. For a Pro Bowl-caliber route runner on a rental salary, that is close to free.
The reason he has not moved yet is that Cleveland keeps hoping the offense clicks. It has not, and the calendar is not on their side.
Kayvon Thibodeaux Just Got Cheaper
The Giants were asking a lot for Thibodeaux in the spring. Then Jaxson Dart’s season ended, and New York’s timeline shifted with it.
Thibodeaux is 25, a former top-five pick, and a 2027 free agent. A conditional 2027 third feels like the landing zone now, which is a very different conversation than the one the Giants wanted in April.
Pass rushers with his athletic profile do not usually reach the open market. A team willing to bet on the traits should be aggressive here.
The Depth Names Matter Too
Josh Uche in Miami is a veteran rusher stuck on a rebuilding roster, available for something like a sixth. Mason Rudolph in Pittsburgh is another experienced arm in a market starving for experienced arms.
Neither moves a franchise. Both could decide a wild card race in December, which is exactly how these mid-round deals end up looking brilliant in hindsight.
The Real Lesson
Every year teams wait until the last 48 hours before the deadline and then overpay in a panic. The smart front offices are making calls right now, while sellers still believe they might turn it around and price accordingly.
San Francisco should be listening on Jones. Cleveland should be moving Jeudy. The Giants should accept that this season changed and cash in Thibodeaux while a bidding war is still possible.
Waiting costs money. It always does.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.