The San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals may agree in the latest NFL rumors trade proposal involving a particular superstar quarterback. Joe Burrow is reportedly the name that Vincent Bonsignore of the New York Post brought up that the 49ers could target if Brock Purdy can’t live up to expectations this upcoming season. Last offseason, the former Pro Bowler agreed to a five-year blockbuster extension despite a disastrous 2024 campaign followed by injuries. The 2025 campaign was the same story for Purdy, so it’s fair to examine why the 49ers may move overall from the seventh-rounder after the upcoming season.
“Multiple league sources have indicated that San Francisco is a team to watch if Burrow serves the Bengals with divorce papers. For the same reasons Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch made an earnest run at Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2021, some believe they would not hesitate to do the same if Burrow is available,” he said.
While the 49ers still have Super Bowl aspirations (to actually win it this time), led by Purdy, don’t be surprised if GM John Lynch does anything he can to get there, even dealing away their quarterback. However, the 2022 draft selection has proven to be a top-tier pocket-passer, leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance during the 2023 campaign, which ended in an overtime heartbreaker.
NFL Rumors: 49ers, Bengals Linked in $275M Superstar Trade
Steve Young/Joe Montana Vs Colin Kaepernick/Alex Smith Comparison
Bonsignore continued and compared this potential situation to when the 49ers traded for Steve Young while Joe Montana was still on the roster. He also brought up Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith from years ago, so it’s fair to wonder if Lynch is willing to trade for a superstar if Purdy doesn’t exceed expectations. Jimmy Garoppolo was another QB the 49ers leaned on to get them to the Super Bowl as well, but they haven’t found their Young moment just yet to give them their ring since 1995.
Could that be Burrow? The NFL is a crazy place. This offseason, Myles Garrett moved to Los Angeles while AJ Brown was acquired in New England via trades, but that can’t compare to what a Burrow/49ers trade would come down to. Bonsignore is right about his intuition, but it will depend on how the Bengals QB performs this upcoming 2026 campaign.
Is Burrow on the hot seat?
It’s possible, too, that if the current Bengals can’t bring this team to a postseason appearance, it’s time for Cincinnati to move on. Per sources, the pocket-passer is ranked the No. 4 quarterback in the NFL by ESPN’s annual survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts, trailing behind Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Matthew Stafford. The Bengals understand their QB is special, but if he continues to show he can’t stay healthy or consistent, they could be willing to trade him at the right price.
Earlier this offseason, the QB demanded change within the organization, which swirled potential trade rumors. The Bengals indeed gave him the change he was looking for. Cincinnati acquired Trey Hendrickson and Boye Mafe to salvage the defense while retaining most of their key pieces, offensively. Burrow is currently happy here in Cincinnati, but it’s still something to monitor.
Let’s discuss something that will likely happen this upcoming season, though.
What About Mac Jones?
Of course, Jones is easily the favorite to become the long-term starter. Last year, he started eight games, recording 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He earned his stripes as the answer that San Francisco is looking for. However, he’s been in several trade rumors during the 2026 campaign and could be dealt only if Purdy has a breakout season.
Meanwhile, Burrow joining the 49ers is still a possibility. He came close to winning a Super Bowl early in his career, and if he can’t win in Cincinnati, expect him to be in another uniform in the next 3-4 years.
On the other hand, Jones could turn out special if the 49ers deal him, so why not ship him to Cincinnati? Well, they have Joe Flacco acting as a bridge. If Jones and Burrow were truly unhappy where they were, we’d have a potential blockbuster here before Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season.
