The 49ers agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent quarterback Sam Darnold. The former first-round pick—number three overall—of the 2018 draft has had his ups and downs in his first five years in the league. Darnold has completed 1,054 of his 1,765 pass attempts for a 59.7 completion percentage throughout his career. He has thrown for 11,767 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions, per Pro Football Focus.
What makes Sam Darnold the perfect fit for the San Francisco 49ers?
The first thing that comes to mind is his age. Sam Darnold is 25 years old. When the 49ers mentioned looking into a veteran quarterback, most assumed their selection would be a more seasoned veteran like Andy Dalton or Marcus Mariota. Instead, the 49ers went with a young veteran in Darnold. The one thing head coach Kyle Shanahan loves to do is mold quarterbacks. Brian Griese can help shape Trey Lance, Brock Purdy, and the newly acquired Darnold.
The second thing that comes to mind is the contract. Darnold agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, with $3 million guaranteed. He can earn $7 million more in incentives, per details revealed on Tuesday. The 49ers managed to keep their quarterback's room relatively young and cheap.
The third thing is his competitiveness. Darnold played his college ball at USC. He can now put his past behind him and focus on his new venture. Darnold will have an array of weapons to complete throws on every level. Coming from a winning program at USC, the quarterback returns to California to compete for a spot on the 49ers roster. His competition is Lance and Purdy. Darnold is a competitor and will not settle for the number two or three quarterbacks on the roster.
In conclusion, Darnold seems like the perfect fit for the 49ers. He's young, cheap, and competitive. With the addition of Darnold, the 49ers' quarterbacks room will be pretty interesting once camp begins. Could this possibly cause a ripple in that room? Only time will tell.