49ers' Sam Darnold hype train keeps barreling out of control
All that’s left is the bust in Canton.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on “SportsCenter” that opposing teams think Sam Darnold is far from an afterthought in the 49ers’ upcoming quarterback competition.
“The Sam Darnold signing is really interesting to a lot of teams I talk to,” Fowler said on Tuesday’s edition of “SportsCenter.”
“They believe that Sam Darnold is going to push for meaningful snaps with this team as early as Week 1. They believe his major talent has gone largely untapped. Maybe the 49ers can bring something out of him.”
San Francisco does have one of the more intriguing quarterback situations in the NFL.
Brock Purdy, the Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 NFL Draft, is recovering from Tommy John surgery after he pushed the 49ers to the NFC Championship game in January.
Purdy suffered the torn UCL early in the 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC title game and his return timetable remains a bit murky, although Fowler reported the former Iowa State star has “the inside track” for the starter’s job when he does return.
Sam Darnold during a Panthers game against the Buccaneers on Dec. 26, 2022. Getty Images
Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, missed all but one game of his second season with a broken ankle after the 49ers tapped him as their unquestioned starter last year.
Fowler noted the 49ers hope Lance “shows out” during OTAs and training camp with snaps available given Purdy’s questionable availability.
The signing of Darnold was something of an afterthought as the 25-year-old has failed to establish himself in his five seasons in the league.
However, intrigue still exists for Darnold following disappointing runs with the Jets and Panthers.
“He can do everything,” star running back Christian McCaffrey, who played with Darnold on the Panthers before being traded to the 49ers last season, told The Athletic last month. “He can make every throw. He’s smart. He’s able to pick up things quickly and do his job. Doesn’t play beyond anything, does exactly what he’s told all the time, and adds a lot of flare to it, too. I got the privilege to play with Sam. Not enough, unfortunately. I had some injuries, but he’s another guy who’s just a gamer. And he’s tough as hell. He’s played through a lot and never made excuses.
“His toughness for me is something he doesn’t get enough credit for. Just knowing the stuff he went through in New York and Carolina, to be able to keep his head down and keep working as hard as he did showed a lot of perseverance, determination, toughness — all that. I’m happy he’s here.”
NBC Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco said earlier this month that Darnold “might be … the most talented thrower of the football that the 49ers have ever had.”
Sam Darnold (middle), Christian McCaffrey (right) and George Kittle at a Warriors-Lakers playoff game on May 4, 2023. NBAE via Getty Images
Heady praise considering the franchise boasts Hall of Famers and Super Bowl champions Joe Montana and Steve Young as alums.
Maiocco recently clarified his statement in an interview with Niners Nation.
“When I look at Darnold, it’s the ability to throw a football that is why he made it into the NFL as the No. 3 overall pick and could have easily been the No. 1 pick,” Maiocco said. “So to me, that’s not necessarily a compliment because if we’re talking about a guy being a great thrower, typically that means that maybe he’s not a great quarterback and I think there’s a lot of untapped potential there, and maybe the arm talent that [49ers head coach] Kyle Shanahan hasn’t had at that quarterback position.
“But as Kyle himself has said, there’s a lot more to playing the position. There’s anticipation, there’s timing, there’s a feel for the pocket, there’s being able to read defenses, it’s quick decision making, it’s heck, it’s supporting cast.
“And in the case of Sam Darnold, I don’t know that he’s had a great chance to succeed. I don’t know that his coaching has been all that great through his first five NFL seasons. So I didn’t necessarily think it was going to be controversial.”
Sam Darnold playing in the Panthers-Saints game on Jan. 8, 2023. Getty Images
The comments, though, did attract attention, as did the ones from Fowler on Tuesday.
Now Darnold has a chance to back up the hype — tempered as it might be — with the 49ers’ quarterback situation in flux as OTAs begin for San Francisco.
Source: New York Post
