The San Francisco 49ers have added another quarterback to their long-awaited open competition for the 2023 season.
Sam Darnold, the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, is reportedly heading to San Fran on a one-year deal, according to ESPN.
Darnold is in a competition with Brock Purdy, «Mr. Irrelevant» in last year’s NFL Draft, who wowed everyone with his success as a starter last season, and Trey Lance, the 2021 third overall pick he hopes to win back. his starting job after a season-ending injury.
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Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers throws before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
This move by the 49ers comes after former starter Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly agreed to become the new starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders after they released Derek Carr. Garoppolo’s deal is expected to be worth $67.5 million over the next three seasons.
It’s been five seasons since Darnold entered the NFL as the Jets’ hopeful quarterback of the future. But after three tumultuous seasons in New York with injuries and inconsistent play hurting his development as a franchise player, the Jets went ahead and traded him to the Carolina Panthers before the 2021 season.
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Darnold’s situation with the Panthers was an ongoing battle for the starting job, and he won it in 2021. But he ultimately lost the job after going 4-7 on the year.
The Panthers had a lot of issues besides the quarterback last season, but Darnold once again got his chance to start. While he went 4-2, the Panthers also tried PJ Walker and started Baker Mayfield early in the season.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) runs down the field against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Darnold passed for 1,143 yards with seven touchdowns on three interceptions with a 58.6% completion rate in his six starts.
Despite having more experience than Purdy and Lance combined, Darnold isn’t at the top of the depth chart.
Purdy, who underwent elbow surgery to heal his NFC Championship Game injury against the Philadelphia Eagles, should emerge as the quarterback to beat due to his tremendous efforts in just a short amount of time.
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He went 5-0 as a starter during the regular season, passing for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He was also able to win two playoff games against the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys before losing to the Eagles.
Then there’s Lance, who still has the talent that GM John Lynch and the rest of the organization believe in after being named the starter out of training camp ahead of the 2022 season. time he broke his ankle in Week 2.
Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers warms up against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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If anything, the addition of Darnold not only adds competition but also security to the quarterback position after the 49ers used four different ones last year due to the injury problem.