49ers and Sam Darnold Agree to One Year Deal

The 49ers just found their third-string quarterback.

The team has agreed to a one-year deal with Sam Darnold, according to reports. Which means the 49ers are taking a flyer on the 25-year-old quarterback who already is on his third team. This move seems to show confidence in Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, because Darnold isn't here to take either of their jobs. Darnold is here to play if the other two can't, which is important, considering the 49ers got four quarterbacks injured last season.

The Jets drafted Darnold with the third pick in the 2018 draft, and he was a bust for them. But in fairness to Darnold, the Jets are a terrible organization and every quarterback tends to fail there.

Then Darnold went to the Panthers, where he struggled in 2021. In 2022, he began the season as the backup behind Baker Mayfield. Eventually, after the Panthers fired their head coach, traded Christian McCaffrey and began to tear down their roster, Darnold got to start the final six games. And somehow he won four of them.

So Darnold is coming off the best stretch of his career. He played so well last season, I assumed the Panthers would keep him as their starter. But instead, they traded up for the No. 1 pick, which they will use on a quarterback. So Darnold became available.

For a cheap quarterback, Darnold still has lots of talent. He's big, mobile and he can throw on the run. And if he can win games with the Panthers, he definitely can win games with the 49ers if they need him to play.

Good signing.