49ers GM John Lynch reveals why Sam Darnold beat out Trey Lance
For a variety of reasons, the foremost being injury, it never clicked for Trey Lance with the 49ers. One factor behind the 49ers' willingness to trade him to the Cowboys last month was how quickly it all clicked for the man who overtook him on the depth chart to win the battle to be Brock […]
For a variety of reasons, the foremost being injury, it never clicked for Trey Lance with the 49ers.
One factor behind the 49ers' willingness to trade him to the Cowboys last month was how quickly it all clicked for the man who overtook him on the depth chart to win the battle to be Brock Purdy's backup quarterback.
The 49ers signed another former third overall pick, Sam Darnold, in free agency this offseason, and his ability to efficiently adapt to Kyle Shanahan's offense proved key in him prevailing over Lance in their position battle.
Speaking to KNBR (h/t 49ers Webzone), general manager John Lynch said of Darnold:
"Anyone who watches quarterbacks, I mean, the arm talent … is undeniable. He's an extremely talented thrower of the football. I think what he did is really acclimate well to our offense, and we thought he would, because some of the things we do, moving the pocket with the keeper game, play-action pass, spreading the ball accurately to our weapons and allowing them to do the rest with run after [the] catch and such are things he thrives in. And so, sure enough, he did, and really grew throughout camp, and we felt like, at some point, he distanced himself from the rest of the guys for that number two job."
Darnold's comfort in the offense compared to Lance was evident during the preseason. Whereas Darnold was decisive in delivering the ball and made throws against pressure, Lance was often hesitant and frequently struggled amid muddied pockets.
That difference ultimately made the QB2 decision a straightforward one, with Lance's demotion to QB3 prompting him to ask the Niners to find a trade partner, which they did as they dealt him to Dallas for a fourth-round pick.
Whether the 49ers will come to regret trading the man they selected third overall in 2021, after dealing three first-round picks to Miami, hinges on Purdy's ability to stay healthy and, if he does not, Darnold proving his preseason flashes were not a false dawn.
Lynch is right in that there is little doubting Darnold's abilities. The problem is that there is precious little evidence of him succeeding in the regular season. He has only completed 60 percent of his passes in a season once, doing so in 2019 with the Jets when he went 7-6 as a starter.
Darnold's best arguably came last year as he went 4-2 as a starter for the Panthers. Across that period from Week 12 to Week 18, he ranked seventh in Expected Points Added per play among quarterbacks with at least 100 plays.
Operating in the league's most quarterback-friendly offense, the hope is Darnold could reproduce that kind of play consistently for the 49ers. San Francisco clearly has faith in Darnold, but the Niners have no desire to be in a position where they need to see that belief vindicated.
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