49ers Sign Sam Darnold

49ers Sign Sam Darnold

Can Kyle Shanahan save another quarterback? After what he did with Brock Purdy, I’m not sure you can put anything past him. The 49ers have signed Sam Darnold for basically free and have now created the most entertaining reclamation project in the league.

Adam Schefter of ESPN was the first to report the news:

Darnold, 25, had a tough year in Carolina in 2022. In fairness, the situation was far from ideal given the midseason coaching change to a defensive minded guy. Still, the overall numbers weren’t good. Darnold sported a 58.6% completion rate for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns against three interceptions in six starts. Carolina also went 4-2 in those starts so it wasn’t all bad. It was also a weird year where Darnold was hurt at the start and Baker Mayfield was traded for an eventually imploded.

With Jimmy Garoppolo departed, San Francisco wanted another veteran option. Brock Purdy and Trey Lance were currently the only other options on the roster. Both Purdy and Lance are injured creating another level of intrigue. Lance with the broken leg and Purdy with the UCL injury. What if neither are healthy and Darnold has to start the season? That seems like a very possible outcome at this point.

Those that have been reading this site for a long time know I had a man crush on Sam Darnold in 2018. It was him and Josh Allen for me that year. Allen has turned into a hit. Darnold… not so much. Although, who knows what happens if Darnold is drafted by San Francisco instead of the Jets. This is Darnold’s last year shot at a real NFL opportunity. If Darnold flops with this 49ers team, it’s because he stinks. Nothing else.