Quarterback Sam Darnold’s future with the New York Jets is in jeopardy after three uninspiring years with the team. Former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is now the head coach after removing Adam Gase from that post, and NewYork holds the second overall choice in this year’s draft. Changing Darnold when he enters the final year of his rookie contract and using second choice on a quarterback seems to be the course of action the Jets can take in an attempt to get back on track under Saleh. The 49ers shouldn’t be keeping an eye on Darnold as a starter, but they could conceivably aim to add him with a long-term future in mind.
Darnold, 23, would not be an immediate upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo. He has been less than stellar in three years as a starter and there is evidence in his game that it may not have been just the abysmal cast and Gase’s leadership that prevented the ex-No. 3 general choice of success.
However, if coach Kyle Shanahan believes in Darnold’s future, it may be worth downloading a draft selection to acquire it, depending on the compensation the Jets would be looking for. Shanahan before the 49ers’ 2nd week game against the Jets praised the young QB.
“I watched him a lot, whether at college or at last week’s game,” said Shanahan through the Jets team website. “I’m a huge fan of Sam. He’s a very good player. He will have a very good career in this championship. He makes a lot of plays. If you are not in your stuff, if you let him get comfortable there, he will attack you as well as any defender. He manages to shoot very well and sees the field extremely well. We have to make sure not to make him comfortable because when he does, he will show everyone why he is so good. “
Maybe it was just a technical speech about an opponent, but let’s consider the face value for a moment.
The 49ers need to update their reserve quarterback situation and, at the same time, start looking at life after Garoppolo. Except for a season of recovery from him, the team will likely be looking for a new franchise signal caller.
Darnold may not be that, but if the price comes lower than the supposed second-round pick the Jets are looking for and San Francisco can fund him for an early pick of Day 3, a long-term plan begins to emerge.
If Shanahan likes Darnold, there is a good chance that he will like him more than a player he would choose in round 4 or 5. Darnold has another year in his newbie contract that would come with a $ 4.7 million limit for the 49ers in 2021.
This would solve two problems. First, it gives 49ers an upgrade over Nick Mullens in the QB2 position, and it does so for the cost of a Day 3 draft choice. Second, it gives 49ers an entire year to evaluate Darnold in practices and meetings.
There are certainly risks involved. Darnold may just not be a good player. He is completing 59.8 percent of his career shots and an average of 6.6 meters per attempt. Its 3.7 percent touchdown rate exceeds its 3.2 percent interception rate.
On the other hand, he is a talented player who just needs a new environment that makes better use of his skill set. For the 49ers, if Shanahan believes strongly in Darnold, it is worth choosing in the middle of the round to find out.
The biggest doubt and risk comes in the following year. San Francisco could exercise Darnold’s fifth-year option (assuming trade falls before the draft in April) with the goal of starting it in 2022. That would give him $ 25 million fully guaranteed and one year for a long test. forward contract.
San Francisco could also choose to try to hire him for an extension that falls well short of the top quarterback market, hoping to fall into a situation where they have a capable quarterback in a relatively cheap business.
It’s a scary proposition, but 49ers may need to make some big swings to find their long-term response at the center. That does not mean negotiating with Darnold and starting it in 2021. Negotiating for him with a forward-looking eye may be something Shanahan is interested in if his September comments still ring true.
The 49ers would need a perfect situation, where they are not sending much cash to acquire it. If you like a potential customer that you think you can get in the second round, you should follow that path. But if they’re not in love with any realistic options in this year’s draft, throwing the dice into a recovery project like Darnold should be on the table.