Steelers Listed In Mock Trade For 49ers QB Mac Jones

Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

At the top of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ list of offseason needs, the quarterback position once again stands above the rest.

Last offseason, the Steelers signed then–41-year-old Aaron Rodgers after being outbid by the New York Jets for Justin Fields and losing out on Sam Darnold to the Seattle Seahawks—who went on to lead their team to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots this past season. This year, Pittsburgh will have several options as they search for the right quarterback, one of them being San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones.

In his latest piece for CBS Sports, NFL analyst Tyler Sullivan lists the Steelers as one of four potential landing spots for Jones via trade. In his scenario, Pittsburgh would send a 2026 second-round pick (No. 53 overall) to San Francisco in exchange for Jones.

With the Steelers once again awaiting Rodgers’ decision on whether he will return, Sullivan outlines a scenario in which Rodgers chooses not to come back—making the investment in Jones a logical move if that situation unfolds.

"If Rodgers walks away now, however, Jones could make sense. They were a playoff team in 2025, so Jones wouldn't be walking into a locker room that is rebuilding, albeit with a first-year head coach in Mike McCarthy at the helm."

With a salary-cap surplus of more than $44.9 million, the Steelers would have more than enough financial flexibility to sign Jones to a long‑term deal. That said, new head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan have both expressed confidence in former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, whom they drafted in the sixth round last year. If their intention is to move forward with Howard, it becomes unlikely the team would pursue a trade for Jones.

In a backup role last season, Jones recorded 2,151 passing yards, completing 201 passes and throwing 13 touchdowns across eight starts while filling in for starter Brock Purdy.