The San Francisco 49ers have a decision to make this offseason – and it could be a big one. According to reports, the team wants to hold onto backup quarterback Mac Jones, who proved to be a valuable insurance policy last season.
But in the NFL, everything has a price. And if the right offer comes along, even the most well-laid depth chart can be reshuffled in a heartbeat.
Enter former 49ers safety Donte Whitner, who tossed out a trade scenario that’s as bold as it is intriguing: Mac Jones, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick in exchange for Las Vegas Raiders star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. That’s a blockbuster, no doubt – and one that raises some serious questions for both franchises.
Let’s start with the Raiders. The team is widely expected to target Indiana quarterback and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
But Whitner, for one, isn’t sold on the young signal-caller. His take?
Vegas would be better off bringing in a proven NFL quarterback like Jones, even if it means parting with their defensive cornerstone.
It’s a steep price, but there’s some logic here. The Raiders have been stuck in a cycle of inconsistency for years.
Last season, things reached a boiling point when the organization shut Crosby down for the final games – reportedly against his wishes. That move may have fractured the relationship between team and player, and if Crosby wants out, the Raiders could be forced to explore their options.
Now, flipping an elite edge rusher like Crosby is never an easy call. He’s one of the most disruptive defenders in the league – a relentless motor with All-Pro talent. But if the front office believes it’s time to reset the franchise, getting a young veteran quarterback and two premium draft picks could be the kind of return that jumpstarts a rebuild.
Mac Jones, meanwhile, might not be the flashiest name, but he showed last season that he can operate efficiently in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. That’s notable because Klint Kubiak – now the offensive coordinator in Las Vegas – is a Shanahan disciple.
He knows the system, and Jones has already shown he can thrive in it. That familiarity could give the Raiders a head start in building a competent offense around him.
But let’s not pretend Jones is walking into a ready-made situation. The Raiders don’t have the same offensive firepower or defensive support that helped Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl with Seattle. For Jones to succeed in Vegas, he’ll need help – from the line, the skill positions, and the other side of the ball.
From the 49ers’ perspective, moving on from Jones would be risky. He was a stabilizing force last season when injuries hit, and without him, San Francisco would be one Brock Purdy injury away from a major problem under center. Depth at quarterback matters, and Jones gave them that.
But the upside of adding Maxx Crosby? That’s hard to ignore.
Pairing Crosby with Nick Bosa would give the 49ers arguably the most fearsome edge duo in the NFL. That kind of pass-rushing tandem can change games, dictate tempo, and take pressure off the secondary.
In a conference loaded with quarterback talent, that kind of defensive firepower could be the difference in January.
Is this trade likely? Probably not.
These kinds of mega-deals rarely materialize. But the idea itself speaks to the mindset in San Francisco – a team that’s not content with just being in the mix.
They want to close the gap on Seattle and get back to the Super Bowl. And if that means making a bold move, well, it’s at least worth the conversation.
Whitner’s proposal might be hypothetical, but it highlights a real tension both teams are facing: how to balance short-term needs with long-term vision. For the 49ers, it’s about building a defense that can dominate. For the Raiders, it’s about finding stability at quarterback and resetting the culture.
Whether or not this trade ever leaves the realm of speculation, it’s a reminder that in the NFL, rosters are never truly set – and the right phone call can change everything.
