49ers' Brock Purdy predicted to face pressure from ridiculous source in 2026

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the top Super Bowl contenders heading into the 2026 NFL season, even in a tough division with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams.

While there will be pressure on the team to go on a playoff run, with a lot of the core players getting older, quarterback Brock Purdy is also slated to face significant pressure in 2026. But not all of this pressure makes sense.

Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon is predicted to face pressure from one ridiculous source that doesn't really make sense. That source of pressure for Purdy, according to Gagnon? It's backup, QB Mac Jones.

Brock Purdy predicted to face pressure from Mac Jones in 2026

"Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: The presence of Mac Jones," Gagnon writes. "Jones is considered a starting-worthy quarterback in the right spot, and his very presence should put pressure on Purdy."

While Jones showed some high-quality play last season for the 49ers when he had to take over for an injured Purdy, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a 69.6% completion rating and a 5-3 record.

Jones might be the best backup quarterback in the NFL, but there's almost zero chance that the 49ers will bench Purdy for Jones this upcoming season.

For starters, Purdy has been a very good QB in his career. He has a 67.9% completion rating for his career with a 17-game average of 4,054 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.

Another key thing to note is that Purdy is making $265 million on a five-year deal. The 49ers won't give up on Purdy for Jones, who will be a free agent after this season.

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The only way the 49ers would make a change is if Purdy were to get hurt again, or he were to suddenly become one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL.

Purdy is a good quarterback, and the presence of Jones should not actually put any pressure on him in 2026. This is Purdy's team, as Jones is firmly the backup without any clear way to get into the starting lineup.

The real pressure point for Purdy this season will be the changing wide receiver room and the aging George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Trent Williams.

For as good as Jones looked last season, to call him Purdy's "Main Obstacle" doesn't make much sense. Purdy's job isn't going to be threatened by Jones, even with how good the former New England Patriots first-round pick looked last year.

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