Sam Darnold Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Darnold a solid insurance plan given 49ers QB situation

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/13/23

Trey Lance and Brock Purdy both have solid cases to be the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

But with one returning from a broken ankle and the other rehabbing from elbow surgery, San Francisco agreed to terms with former Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold on a one-year deal on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The former No. 3 overall pick, Darnold replaces Jimmy Garoppolo, who agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday as San Francisco’s third quarterback.

The 25-year-old Darnold performed the best of Carolina’s three quarterbacks this season, passing for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions with a 92.6 passer rating and a 4-2 record as the starter.

Before #49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017, Sam Darnold was one of the QBs they were in early stages of studying as a potential pick in '18 draft. They traded for Garoppolo instead, won five games and were out of QB market.

On the day Garoppolo exits, Darnold arrives.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) March 13, 2023

He was the only Panthers QB with a passer rating over 78, and he threw for more yards per game (190.5) than both Baker Mayfield (187.6) and P.J. Walker (121.8). Darnold started 11 or more games in every season but 2022, and he has a 21-34 career record as a starter.

Lance recently started throwing a few weeks ago, and he is expected to be fully healthy by the start of training camp. The 22-year-old QB started just two games in 2022 before breaking his ankle. He completed 48.4 percent of his passes for 194 yards and an interception.

Purdy stepped in late in the season when Garoppolo suffered a broken foot and led the 49ers to eight straight wins before suffering an elbow injury in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Including the playoffs, Purdy threw for 1,943 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.

While 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is on record saying the starting job will be an open competition between Lance and Purdy, Darnold provides them with a battle-tested veteran with plenty of starting experience who can push Lance during San Francisco’s offseason program and into training camp.

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