Reports: Sam Darnold Is Fighting His Position In The 49ers Quarterback Battle

This offseason, the quarterback position for the San Francisco 49ers will be a huge topic of discussion, and while Brock Purdy is out, Trey Lance will have competition from free agency signee Sam Darnold.

Reports: Sam Darnold Is Fighting His Position In The 49ers Quarterback Battle

It’s uncertain when Brock Purdy, who started down the stretch of last season, will be able to throw the ball around because he is still recuperating from elbow surgery.

Trey Lance, a former third-round selection, and Darnold will thus compete for the starting quarterback job until Purdy can rejoin the fray.

Darnold is reportedly making a strong push for the starting job and will share QB1 repetitions with Lance throughout the offseason, according to Jeremy Fowler (via The Spun).

The New York Jets’ third-round choice in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold, who struggled, was dubbed a flop but showed some promise while playing for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. He had been acquired by the Panthers in a trade after the 2021 season. Darnold has now signed with the 49ers, and he may now beat Trey Lance in the competition for the starting job.

When the 49ers moved up to choose Trey Lance in the 2021 selection, they made a huge commitment in him. This does not, however, ensure that he will start instead of Darnold if the latter turns out to be the superior choice. According to reports, the team is looking for “improvements from Lance”, who has been diligently training during  the offseason to refine his throwing mechanics.

Last year, Darnold started six games for the Panthers, leading to a 4-2 record. In contrast, Lance has not had many opportunity to demonstrate his abilities because he has spent the most of his first two NFL seasons either on the sidelines due to injury or sitting on the bench.

It’s still unclear how the quarterback competition will play out and who will end up starting for the 49ers.

The organization appears to be hopeful that Darnold’s career would be revived by head coach Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly scheme. He made a point of praising Darnold’s talent, comparing him to a top overall selection, and said he saw no reason to have any doubts about his talents.

Trey Lance has the stronger arm and can strike receivers in stride when he throws. Fans like Lance’s stronger arm since they are always looking for what their team is lacking. The plays Purdy makes that Lance can’t match must also be considered on the other side of the coin. Getting the ball out on time, assessing the field fast, and anticipatory throws.

Can Purdy complete all necessary throws? Yes, but Shanahan is utilizing Purdy’s attributes that he thinks are strong. Purdy can make deep, middle, and sideline passes and complete them, unlike Jimmy Garoppolo, but Shanahan won’t typically ask for them.

Lance needs to demonstrate that he can score 32 points per game throughout the regular season, avoid turnovers, and follow the rules exactly if he wants to keep his starting position in the long run. When healthy, Purdy receives the starting position since he has shown he can.

Prudy had 13 throwing touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and 1,374 yards for the whole season. Not great, but certainly adequate. The team triumphed with him at the center, which is most crucial.

The former Iowa State standout is currently on the sidelines while his UCL heals. This implies that Sam Darnold and Trey Lance will compete for the starting position.

 

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