Sam Darnold Signs Contract With San Francisco 49ers

Sam Darnold, San Francisco 49ers, Agree to Contract

2022 was a wild year for Sam Darnold. After spending 2021 as Carolina’s primary starter, the team decided to bring in Baker Mayfield to compete in the offseason. The competition started fiercely until it wasn’t. Ultimately, Mayfield won due to Darnold’s pre-season injury landing him on the short-term injured reserve.

While he was sidelined, Mayfield eventually lost the starting job to PJ Walker. Darnold returned from injury as the backup but quickly earned the starting job after Walker struggled in extended action. Ultimately, Darnold made six starts on the season, going 4-2 while completing 58.6% of his passes for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Darnold originally entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Selected by the New York Jets, the USC product started right out of the gate. While injuries limited him to 13 starts, the rookie still managed to complete 57.7% of his passes for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his first year of NFL action.

Darnold contracted mono early in the 2019 season, but eventually returned to the field and made 13 starts. While under center, the passer completed 61.9% of his passes 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

After two up-and-down seasons, Darnold’s career took a turn for the worst in 2020. The quarterback regressed severely and completed just 59.6% of his passes for 2,208 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while guiding the Jets to the second-overall pick in the draft.

The Jets used said pick on quarterback Zach Wilson and shipped Sam Darnold – and the remainder of his contract – to the Panthers. Unfortunately, a new environment had no effect on Darnold, as he completed just 59.9% of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 12 games.