Sam Darnold is going to be a very intriguing name to keep an eye on with the NFL trade deadline right around the corner. With the New York Jets in a good position to end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trevor Lawrence could easily end up as the new franchise quarterback. If he is available, the San Francisco 49ers could make sense.
If that is the route the Jets want to go, trading Darnold now would make a ton of sense.
David Carr of NFL.com certainly thinks that the Jets could move on from Darnold. He also has a team in the hunt for a Super Bowl that should look to acquire Darnold from New York. That team would be the 49ers.
Here is the explanation that Carr gave for why the 49ers should pursue Darnold.
“To me, Darnold is a much better quarterback than Garoppolo and would make the 49ers’ offense even more difficult to defend. Lynch and Shanahan aren’t afraid to make bold moves, and I’d love to see Darnold get a fresh start on the West Coast in an offense that would get the best out of the young QB.”
Darnold has played in four games with the Jets this season. He has completed 59.4 percent of his pass attempts for 792 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions. In addition to his passing numbers, Darnold has run for 117 yards and a touchdown.
If the 49ers were to acquire Darnold, he would give them an immediate alternative to Jimmy Garoppolo. San Francisco has not been terribly impressed with the development of their current starting quarterback.
At just 23 years old, Darnold has plenty of time to continue developing. He has never had a great coach, nor has he had top-notch weapons.
No one knows if the Jets are truly looking to trade Sam Darnold, but if they are the 49ers could be a potential landing spot. This is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
