Steelers and Vikings named possible trade suitors for former first-round quarterback

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings both need to add a quarterback this offseason, but for different reasons.

The Steelers don't have a surefire starter on their roster currently. Aaron Rodgers is a free agent and he could very well retire or decide to go elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are likely to start J.J. McCarthy again in 2026, but the team needs a veteran insurance policy in case he gets injured or simply continues to struggle like he did in 2025.

With their respective needs at the position, CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan believes the Vikings and Steelers could be trade suitors for San Francisco 49ers veteran quarterback Mac Jones.

Sullivan also lists the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins as other possibilities, and that makes sense given both teams have a major question mark at quarterback, also.

Jones managed to revive his career with the 49ers while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy in 2025, so he will draw interest from quarterback-needy teams.

However, he's also under contract for next season and head coach Kyle Shanahan has said he envisions Jones sticking around in San Francisco.

"We're not into getting rid of good players," he said of Jones, per Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. "I'd be surprised if he's not here next year."

On one hand, it makes sense to keep Jones as an insurance policy for Purdy in case he has another injury-riddled season.

However, Jones' value may never be higher and the 49ers should capitalize on that, especially with the team trying to get younger with an eye on the future. Acquiring more draft capital will help that cause.

Sullivan believes Jones could fetch a third-round pick, which is a far cry from what the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up for him in a trade with the New England Patriots that involved a sixth-round pick.

At that kind of value, the 49ers would be hard-pressed to pass up on trading Jones.

The Steelers would offer Jones a clearer path to a starting job right away, as he would only have to compete with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard.

But the Vikings have better weapons and a head coach in Kevin O'Connell who has a history of elevating a down-and-out quarterback in Sam Darnold, and it's not like McCarthy is fully cemented in his starting job, either.

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