The San Francisco 49ers have 18 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next week. Among them are defensive end Chase Young and quarterback Sam Darnold. Many expect both players to suit up for other teams in 2024, including 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
ESPN's Dan Graziano recently reported that there has been at least some interest from the 49ers in bringing back Young. However, the young pass rusher will likely opt for a larger contract elsewhere rather than giving San Francisco a significant discount.
Darnold spent all of last season as Brock Purdy's backup after signing a one-year deal, anticipating a potential opportunity to start for the 49ers if Purdy's recovery from offseason surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow took longer than expected.
Darnold started one game, a meaningless Week 18 contest against the Los Angeles Rams.
Maiocco joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday and discussed the futures of both players.
Chase Young
While the 49ers traded for Young last season, it was never seen as a long-term solution. Young was brought in to bolster a struggling pass rush and help the team reach the Super Bowl. While the 49ers achieved the latter, Young's impact fell below expectations.
Young ended up with just 3.5 sacks in 12 game appearances, including the playoffs, with the 49ers, shy of the five sacks he racked up in his seven previous games with the Washington Commanders.
Maiocco acknowledges that the idea inside the building was that Young was a short-term addition to the defense, and if his production wasn't up to par after the 2023 season, the 49ers could allow him to walk, potentially earning a compensatory pick next year.
"I would not think, unless Chase Young takes far less than maybe what he can get somewhere else, I would not think that he's returning to the 49ers," Maiocco declared on the "Murph and Markus" show.
Sam Darnold
Darnold was exactly what head coach Kyle Shanahan hoped for—a veteran quarterback who could support Purdy and step in if needed. However, he never got that opportunity.
Darnold will likely have options in free agency, as quarterbacks are a valuable commodity. Some teams might be willing to overpay him (perhaps the Vikings?) to be a bridge quarterback. But it's unlikely that any team will view him as a long-term solution for a starting quarterback job.
"Boy, I don't think any team would look at him as a starter in the future," Maiocco said. "I just can't imagine that. But where I do think that there could be an opportunity for him would be one of these teams that doesn't really have a quarterback now, and there are a handful or more, and there will probably be six quarterbacks taken in the first round (of the draft)."
Maiocco suggests that a team looking to draft a quarterback might be willing to add Darnold as an insurance policy if the young passer isn't mentally ready for Week 1. This situation mirrors the 49ers' circumstances last year due to their injured quarterback. Darnold might be open to a similar move this offseason.
Maiocco notes that Darnold is viewed as a helpful contributor in the quarterback room regardless of his place on the depth chart, which is very important to NFL teams.
"Darnold seems to be very comfortable and was very comfortable in his role as the backup, which I guess some people could say is not a positive thing," Maiocco commented. "But in the NFL, you kind of know what you are, and if you're the backup, and that's your job, as was his job last year whenever Brock Purdy got healthy, your job isn't to compete and be competitive, and not be helpful to the starter in hopes of winning that job from him. Your job is to be a supporting role, know your position, and all that."
Maiocco added that if Darnold doesn't find a market in free agency, the 49ers would likely consider bringing him back as Purdy's backup.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Maiocco below.