49ers Turned Down Calls for Mac Jones and Originally Targeted Josh Downs Before Landing Keenan Allen

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that rival franchises reached out regarding quarterback Mac Jones's availability leading up to the trade deadline. Although speculation has surrounded Jones since the previous offseason, Shanahan expressed relief that the team opted to keep him on the roster as valuable depth.

Jones acknowledged that his name frequently surfaces in trade discussions due to the volatile nature of the quarterback market and potential injuries around the league. However, the quarterback stated that he is content in his current role and fully prepared to perform if called upon during the season.

Meanwhile, general manager John Lynch shed light on the team's wide receiver pursuits leading up to the deadline. Lynch admitted that the organization initially eyed former Colts receiver Josh Downs before shifting attention toward Keenan Allen. Despite initial reluctance from Indianapolis, ongoing discussions eventually secured the trade, adding Allen to an offense that is also welcoming back returning targets like Deebo Samuel and DeMarcus Robinson.

What to watch next: Monitor how quickly Keenan Allen integrates into the San Francisco offense and whether the returning wideouts can spark the team's passing game.