(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch already stated that Brock Purdy is expected to be QB1 once he’s healthy.
But, given the team’s recent history of quarterback injuries, they did right by signing veteran Sam Darnold to a one-year $2.45M deal in the offseason.
The former third-overall pick has struggled through most of his career, posting a 21-34 record and 61 touchdowns to 55 interceptions in five seasons with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
But HC Kyle Shanahan still has plenty of faith in him, stating that he’s never been put in a position to succeed.
“Sam has as good of a skill set as there is,” Shanahan said of his new QB. “That’s why he went as the third pick in the draft, and when you study his play you can see it too. I don’t think he’s always been in the best situations, which is tough for a quarterback. It’s tough for all players, but it’s one position, and there’s another 10 players around you too.”
“He’s always had that ability since his first year in college when we started watching him, and there’s no reason he can’t do it.”
Kyle Shanahan detailed why the #49ers brought Sam Darnold to the Bay Areahttps://t.co/E00qX7qsgi
— Jennifer Lee Chan (@jenniferleechan) March 31, 2023
Shanahan knows the stats or metrics aren’t exactly impressive by any means, but he thinks the skill is most definitely there.
Trey Lance isn’t ready to be on the field just yet, and it might take until Week 1 before we get to see Mr. Irrelevant back on the gridiron as well, so Darnold will handle all first-team reps during OTAs.
The Niners have been one of the most successful teams in the regular season during Shanahan’s tenure, and they’re stacked with talent at nearly every position.
So, should it come down to it, Darnold would finally have a nice supporting cast around him for the first time in his career.
He’s just 25 years old and there’s a slim chance he plays himself up the QB depth chart in the Bay Area, and we’ve already seen the Niners struggle to keep their gunslingers healthy, so everything’s possible here.
Then again, we wouldn’t put our money into it.
The post Kyle Shanahan Explains Why The Team Signed Sam Darnold appeared first on The Cold Wire.