Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
What to make of the 49ers signing QB Sam Darnold
After a major splash in defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, the San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement with Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold on a one-year deal.
Darnold, 25, is coming off a tumultuous season with the Carolina Panthers where he finished strong as the starting quarterback, and was expected to receive interest on the open market in a backup role.
However, he lands with the 49ers on a one-year deal, which currently places him as the backup quarterback behind
Trey Lance, but likely ends as the third-string option when
Brock Purdy returns from his UCL injury near the beginning of the regular season.
Darnold's fit
From the 49ers perspective, Sam Darnold is a solid signing as a player with starting experience, youth, and understanding of his role.
Darnold makes even more sense as a backup because the 49ers' current starter, Trey Lance, has minimal experience as a top signal-caller, and the former Panthers quarterback can provide adequate competition to push Lance and help San Francisco identify where their third-year quarterback currently is.
Additionally, pairing Darnold with Kyle Shanahan allows for a valuable learning opportunity under an offensive mastermind, which could be appealing in future backup roles, should his time in San Francisco be a one-year stint.
Of course, Darnold's availability and talent as a third-string quarterback is an upgrade over
Josh Johnson, providing San Francisco the depth they were searching for at the position.
Darnold's market
The 49ers signing Darnold was a good, cost-controlled move for their roster in 2023, but it was a surprise to hear that the former third-overall puck selected the Bay Area as his next destination.
After the end to his season in 2022, it appeared that Darnold could fetch a solid role as a young second-string quarterback with a higher salary than he's likely to earn with the 49ers, but instead, the former Panther chose San Francisco as his home for 2023 to reset.
The experience should be of value for Darnold, as he can learn under San Francisco's system, but it was a surprising move in my eyes.
Regardless, the 49ers have found a young, cost-controlled backup quarterback that should provide as insurance for each of their rookie contract options, while serving as good competition for Trey Lance in the offseason as the North Dakota State product is given the opportunity to earn the starting job.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article?
Report it.
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Sam Darnold on role with 49ers: "As long as we're winning games, that's the only thing that matters"
Sam Darnold is the newest San Francisco 49ers quarterback. He joins a quarterback room that includes third-year passer Trey Lance and second-year player Brock Purdy. The Niners are Darnold's third NFL team since the New York Jets made him the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. He spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, appearing in 18 games while starting 17.
Darnold felt that signing with the 49ers was an easy decision. He's excited about the opportunity to work with head coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan and the other 49ers coaches.
The quarterback steps into a great situation, too. San Francisco undoubtedly has the most talented roster he has ever been a part of.
"Just excited to get started in this organization and get to work," Darnold
Sam Darnold eager to learn from 49ers, reunite with Christian McCaffrey
It feels like Sam Darnold has been in the NFL for a while now. It isn't easy to believe that the newest San Francisco 49ers quarterback is only 25 years old, despite already starting 55 NFL games.
Darnold, speaking with 49ers team reporter Lindsey Pallares after signing his one-year deal with San Francisco, shared his eagerness to learn and continue to develop under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
"I think there's a ton of ways [for me] to grow and develop," Darnold said, "just by getting tons and tons of reps throughout practice and being able to watch film, sit down with Kyle, sit down with [quarterback coach Brian] Griese and the other quarterbacks, Trey [Lance] and Brock [Purdy]; just to be
What to make of the 49ers re-signing C Jake Brendel
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Mar 15
The San Francisco 49ers ended the questions around their center debacle when they re-signed starter Jake Brendel to a four-year deal worth $20 million on Tuesday, locking up a key player from their offensive line a season ago.
Brendel, 30, reportedly received more money from the New York Jets, but elected to remain in San Francisco on a four-year deal, providing the 49ers with a capable option at center, a position the organization has heavily valued during the Kyle Shanahan era.
Here are the key implications of Brendel's new deal with the 49ers.
49ers in C market
The San Francisco 49ers were definitely involved in the center market, as they placed an interest in multiple players at the top of the market at a position that didn't see
Titans are signing former 49ers OL Daniel Brunskill
The Tennessee Titans are signing former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Brunskill is an unrestricted free agent. He becomes the second 49ers free agency today with which the Titans have agreed to terms. The team is also bringing in linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
The #Titans are expected to sign former