NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Sam Darnold could be the diamond in the rough for the 49ers

By Mohamed Salad

Dec 24, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) on the field during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) on the field during warm ups at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

During the 2023 NFL offseason, a free agency move that went completely under the radar was quarterback Sam Darnold being scooped up by the San Francisco 49ers. Although this isn’t the most exciting free agent signing, he could be very important for the 49ers going forward.

Quarterback Brock Purdy started the last nine games of the season for the 49ers but got injured in the playoffs, ruling him out of a significant part of the 2023 season. With questions surrounding Trey Lance, the 49ers felt they needed to bring someone else in that could potentially start for them until Purdy returns as he seems to be the starter for the future.

Sam Darnold has had a rough time since being drafted by the New York Jets third overall in 2018. The defense was terrible, Darnold was running for his life on every play because the offensive line couldn’t pass block for more than two seconds and his wide receivers were Robbie (now Chosen) Anderson and Quincy Enunwa. Not an ideal situation for any quarterback let alone a rookie who was tasked with turning the franchise around.

Although he threw quite a few interceptions and his decision-making with the ball would be all over the place at times, Darnold showed plenty of promise. He was making throws outside the pocket that would get you off your feet but unfortunately, the situation didn’t get much better in 2019 and 2020 which led to Darnold being traded to the Carolina Panthers.

Having started 3-8 in 2023, the Panthers inserted Darnold as the starter. This period would go on to be his best since coming into the league. The Panthers went on to finish the season 4-2 just missing out on the playoffs, something with seemed impossible. Darnold looked poised and the mistakes were few and far between, he finished with 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns, and just three interceptions.

At San Francisco, it will be the first time he has legitimate weapons around him, a good offensive line, and a run game to help him out. If Darnold is able to secure the starting job and kick on from how he ended last season, we can finally watch the Sam Darnold we all expected when he was drafted third overall out of USC.