When quarterback Sam Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, the expectation was that he could be their franchise quarterback of the future.
But he hasn’t exactly panned out, and after three years with the Jets and two more with the Carolina Panthers, he is headed to the San Francisco 49ers to be their third-string QB.
He and Trey Lance are projected to back-up Brock Purdy, who was the last player chosen in the 2022 draft.
It is a very strange and unique QB situation indeed.
The San Francisco 49ers now own Sam Darnold, who was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
They also own Trey Lance, who was the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
And both are expected to backup the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brock Purdy.
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— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) March 13, 2023
Darnold, a native of Orange County, played three seasons of college ball at the University of Southern California where he led the program to a win in the 2017 Rose Bowl in just his first season as a full-time starter.
In that win over Penn State he set a Rose Bowl record with five passing touchdowns.
But in his five pro seasons, he has thrown almost as many interceptions (55) as touchdowns (61) while completing only 59.7 percent of his passes.
Purdy just underwent surgery to fix a UCL torn in his throwing elbow that he sustained in San Francisco’s loss in the NFC Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles.
He is expected to be able to start throwing a football again in about three months, and he still could be ready for Week 1 of the 2023 season.
If he isn’t, Lance will certainly be the starter, which will give him an opportunity to prove he can be a very good signal-caller and live up to his immense potential.
NEXT:
NFL Fans React To Brock Purdy Injury Update