49ers insider makes wild claim about Sam Darnold

It sure seems like individuals associated with the San Francisco 49ers want fans to prepare for Sam Darnold to be the club's starting quarterback in Week 1 this September. 

"Here's the deal. Sam Darnold might be the most—can I say this—the most talented thrower of the football that the 49ers have ever had," team insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area said during a Thursday appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone.

San Francisco signed Darnold in free agency presumably to have him compete with 2021 first-round draft pick Trey Lance for the starting job as Brock Purdy recovers from elbow surgery. Purdy probably won't begin throwing exercises until shortly after Memorial Day, and it remains unknown when or even if the 2022 rookie sensation will be cleared to play this coming season. 

NFL Network personalities Ian Rapoport and David Carr are among the noteworthy individuals who have predicted Darnold will beat Lance in a summer competition. 49ers legend Frank Gore spent the 2020 season as Darnold's teammate while with the New York Jets and offered high praise for the signal-caller. 

"Frank Gore popped his head in at the 49ers' local pro day, and he was like, 'You will be shocked at what you see from Sam Darnold,'" Maiocco explained. "Frank Gore is a Sam Darnold guy because they spent one year together with the Jets, and he just felt like he just didn't have any chance to succeed. The weapons he had, didn't have much in the way of receivers. The coaching has just been a turnstile. He's a really talented guy."

Purdy should regain his spot atop the depth chart once he's healthy, but he could miss at least half of the 2023 campaign depending on how his arm responds to workouts. Meanwhile, the 49ers didn't trade for Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson and seemingly would have to pay a high price to get either New England Patriots starter Mac Jones or Minnesota Vikings veteran Kirk Cousins following the NFL Draft. 

49ers general manager John Lynch reportedly wouldn't get much in return for Lance in a trade this spring and needs the 22-year-old on the active roster heading into training camp. For whatever reasons, though, it would appear to outsiders that Lance is failing to impress during springtime workouts for the second straight year.