While there is no indication that the 49ers are actively looking for a new starting defender, the club will almost certainly change its reserve status for the 2021 season.
The New York Jets are expected to make Sam Darnold available for the best offer.
This seems to make sense for 49ers – at least, until you consider all the ramifications.
CJ Beathard is scheduled for an unrestricted free agency. Nick Mullens is scheduled to be a restricted free agent. The 49ers could bring one of those players back to compete for the backup job.
Currently, the 49ers have three quarterbacks under contract for next season. But is their backup already on the list? It looks doubtful.
Jimmy Garoppolo, from now on, is the No. 1 option of the 49ers. Veterans Josh Rosen and Josh Johnson complete the updated depth chart.
Rosen was the fourth quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, before the 49ers released him from the training team of eventual Super Bowl champions.
Johnson, who turns 35 in May, has not attempted a pass in an NFL game since 2018.
Darnold, the third overall choice of the 2018 draft, has had no production during his three seasons. Robert Saleh’s Jets have second overall choice, and BYU quarterback Zach Wilson appears to be a strong option to lead Mike LaFleur’s attack.
Darnold had no support during his three seasons with the Jets. He had a completion rate of 59.8, with 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. His passer rating was 78.6.
Multiple NFL sources project Darnold’s commercial value as a second round choice in the draft and possibly a middle selection for the end of the round, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
That price seems especially high for 49ers, who are up against the salary cap and need a good number of their recruitment choices – and their controlled costs – to form the team and fill in contribution roles.
The 49ers have 10 draft choices, but only two (Nos. 12 and 43) among the top 100. Choosing the second round gives 49ers the option to trade back to acquire more selections.
The 49ers could find a better use for a second round choice than in a reserve quarterback who may never have stepped on the field.
Darnold would also cost $ 4.77 million on his new team’s salary cap in 2021, if negotiated.
This may not seem like much, but the salary cap is expected to drop from $ 198.2 million per team to just $ 180 million.
Garoppolo is already slated to earn $ 25.5 million in wages and bonuses – a number that 49ers can greatly reduce when they determine that he will be back as a starter.
If the 49ers kept their choice in the second round, that player would be expected to be the immediate holder. It would also cost $ 3.5 million any less on the lid than Darnold.
In addition, a draft choice would be under a very manageable contract during the 2024 season.
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Darnold is entering the last year of his contract. Therefore, the 49ers – or any team that makes this switch – can give up a choice in the second round to have Darnold for just one season.
If the 49ers are going to have patience with Garoppolo and give him another season, it would make sense to have patience with Darnold too.
After all, if they are intrigued by Darnold as a possible adjustment to Kyle Shanahan’s system, it would be better to wait a year, keep choosing the second round and try to acquire him as a free agent in 2022.
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