The 49ers’ quarterback competition just got more hilarious as they added another quarterback to their already complicated situation.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation last season was complicated, and now it is even more complicated. The 49ers entered the 2022 season with Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brock Purdy as their quarterbacks.
We are now in 2023, and free agency has begun. Jimmy Garoppolo, a free agent, is signing a three-year, $72.75 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, who were without a quarterback after they released Derek Carr earlier this year.
With the veteran Garoppolo gone, the 49ers are adding another young quarterback to their team in Sam Darnold, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Darnold was selected with the New York Jets‘ third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. After a few unsuccessful seasons in New York, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and did not have much success there either. Darnold now finds himself on the 49ers, but will he start?
Who will start at quarterback for the 49ers in 2023?
Who will start for the 49ers was the question heading into last season, and will also be the question heading into this season? With their three young quarterbacks in Lance, Purdy, and Darnold, the 49ers have a tough decision to make.
Do they go with Lance, the guy they drafted in the first round just two years ago? It seemed like San Francisco found its future when they drafted him, but now it is up in the air.
Going with Darnold as their starter seems unlikely; with him only signing a one-year deal, it seems he will be a backup.
Does San Francisco remain with Purdy, who shocked the world and took them to the NFC Championship?
Purdy had an impressive rookie season, winning all five of his starts in the regular season. Purdy’s passer rating of 119.4 through his five starts is the highest for a quarterback in his first five starts since Kurt Warner in 1999.
In the 49ers’ Wild Card game against the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy became the first 49ers rookie quarterback to start and win a playoff game. He completed 18-of-30 passes for 332 yards and scored four total touchdowns, the most by a rookie quarterback in a playoff game.
With all his success last season, it seems only fitting for the 49ers to go with Brock Purdy as their starter, but what does that mean for former first-round pick Trey Lance’s future? The conversation surrounding San Francisco’s quarterback controversy will make for an interesting offseason.
The 49ers have dealt with terrible QB injury luck
San Francisco drafted Lance third overall in the 2021 NFL draft. In 2022, they selected Purdy with the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, dubbing him “Mr. Irrelevant”; however, Purdy became far from irrelevant.
Lance was named the starter over the veteran Garoppolo. Lance’s season would be cut short after suffering an injury in Week 2. Garoppolo then took over as the starter.
In the offseason, Garoppolo and the 49ers had agreed to a one-year contract to keep him with the team. Garoppolo would remain the starter until he suffered a foot injury in the first quarter of the Week 13 game. The 49ers turned to their rookie third-string backup, Purdy, with no other choice.
Purdy took over from Garoppolo in Week 13 and sent shockwaves through the entire NFL world throughout the rest of the season. He ultimately led the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated them. During the game, Purdy suffered an elbow injury and was replaced by backup Josh Johnson, who suffered a concussion in the same game. Purdy then reentered the game; however, his injury rendered him unable to throw the ball downfield.
I think it is safe to say that the 49ers’ quarterback room was cursed in 2022.
