Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(New York, NY) — Do not underrate 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, opposing teams see Darnold as a formidable threat in the NFL.
“The Sam Darnold signing is really interesting to a lot of teams I talk to,” Fowler said on Tuesday’s edition of “SportsCenter.”
Some teams even believe Darnold will get meaningful snaps in Week 1, especially with a question mark on Brock Purdy following his elbow injury.
“They believe his major talent has gone largely untapped. Maybe the 49ers can bring something out of him.”
While Purdy recovers from Tommy John surgery, Trey Lance, the number three overall pick in 2021 draft is also back after breaking his ankle early last season.
This leaves the door wide open for Darnold to become QB1 in Week 1.
“He can do everything,” running back Christian McCaffery said about Darnold in an interview with The Athletic last month. “He’s able to pick up things quickly and do his job. Doesn’t play beyond anything, does exactly what he’s told all the time, and adds a lot of flare to it, too.”
McCaffery and Darnold played on the Panthers together prior to McCaffery being dealt to San Francisco.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan also added specifically on Darnold: “I truly see Sam talent-wise as a top pick in the draft, just like he was. You watch his whole career and there’s no reason to think differently.”
Darnold made great strides in resurrecting his career in the final couple months of the 2022 season, proving efficient for a run-heavy Carolina offense. He posted a career-high 8.2 adjusted yards per attempt.
