At a young age, Sam Darnold etched his name in NFL history as the youngest opening-day starting quarterback after the AFL-NFL merger, taking the reins for the New York Jets from 2018 to 2020. However, his stint with the Jets fell short of expectations, leading him to seek a fresh start with the Carolina Panthers. Eventually, he landed with the San Francisco 49ers, settling into a backup role.
With the 49ers looking to turn over a new leaf under the guidance of head coach Nick Sirianni, speculation has arisen regarding Darnold’s future destination for the upcoming season.
Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson are reportedly on the Vikings’ wish list
The future of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota remains shrouded in mystery as NFL free agency looms. With Cousins’ contract expiring, the Vikings are reportedly eyeing replacements, and two intriguing names have surfaced: former first-round picks Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson. Local insider Darren Wolfson, on SKOR North’s “Minnesota Sports with Mackey and Judd” podcast, revealed the Vikings’ growing interest in these young quarterbacks.
Additionally, he said that the interest in Darnold is significant and ranks prominently on the team’s priority list.
Darnold boasts a career record of 21-35 with a passer rating of 78.3 and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ starter holds a record of 12-21 with a passer rating of 73.2. He is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, with a manageable cap hit of $11.2 million for the upcoming season.
Both players have faced challenges and struggled during their starting stints in New York. Now, both have the opportunity to revitalize their careers in a new environment under the guidance of Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell.
Sam Darnold’s 49ers future clarified by insider
49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area recently shared his insights on the future prospects of quarterback Sam Darnold during an appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR. Maiocco expressed skepticism about Darnold’s potential to secure a starting position.
He highlighted the possibility of Darnold finding opportunities with teams in need of quarterback solutions, particularly those without established starters.
“Boy, I don’t think any team would look at him as a starter in the future. I just can’t imagine that. But where I do think that there could be an opportunity for him would be one of these teams that doesn’t really have a quarterback now, and there are a handful or more, and there will probably be six quarterbacks taken in the first round (of the draft),” he said, per 49ers Webzone.
Darnold spent the entirety of the last season serving as the backup to Brock Purdy. Despite limited playing time, he made appearances in five games, amassing 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
There were hopes within the 49ers organization that Darnold might get a chance to start if Purdy faced extended recovery time following offseason surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.
At last, Darnold’s chance to take the reins never materialized, as the former Cyclones player
excelled in his role and led the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII. Nevertheless, their dreams were ultimately dashed, leading to speculation about the “Kirk Cousins curse” haunting the franchise.
