With backup 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold likely to return to free agency in the hopes of competing for a starting job somewhere after a season in the 49ers quarterback room, a spot should open up for a new San Francisco second-stringer. And it may allow the 49ers to re-sign veteran backup Nate Sudfeld, whom they had hoped to keep.
Sudfeld spent the last two seasons with the Lions, having nearly missed out on a berth with the 49ers in 2021. He did not participate last season due to a ruptured ACL.
That offseason, the 49ers appeared to be headed toward a parting of ways with Jimmy Garoppolo, and were planning to have a depth chart of Trey Lance as the starter, followed by Sudfeld. But the team restructured Garoppolo’s contract and Purdy beat our Sudfeld, forcing the 49ers to release him at the end of camp.
49ers Quarterback Depth Will Need a Reshuffling
Kyle Madson of the site wrote about Sudfeld, who had been on the 49ers practice squad the previous year:
“Brock Purdy knocked out Sudfeld for a roster spot in 2022, but San Francisco guaranteed Sudfeld a couple million dollars prior to the season, assuming he’d be the backup quarterback to Trey Lance. Sudfeld lost his position as a result of Jimmy Garoppolo remaining in Santa Clara and Purdy’s rise to prominence.
“It’s clear head coach Kyle Shanahan likes him though, and with no other QBs on the roster the 49ers may turn back to Sudfeld.”
Shanahan, too, may bring back Brandon Allen, the team’s third-string quarterback. He is 31, but he clearly understands the system and has some experience (9 career starts).
Sam Darnold Wants a Shot at Starting
The 49ers would prefer to re-sign Darnold, but that is unlikely. Darnold signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract in March with the expectation of starting the season as Purdy recovered from an elbow injury sustained in last year’s NFC Championship.
However, Darnold is 26 years old and wants to be a starter in the NFL. He had one shot at the position this season, when the 49ers rested Purdy in Week 18 against the Rams. In the 49ers’ 21-20 loss to the Rams, he finished with 189 yards passing, 16 completions on 26 attempts, and a touchdown, giving him a 96.5 quarterback rating.
This is likely Darnold’s last shot to launch his career. He was the third choice in the 2018 draft and spent his first three seasons with the Jets, where the team was a complete disaster and he had a 13-25 record as a starter. Darnold improved with Carolina the following two years, 2021 and 22; he finished 8-9 as the team’s starter. However, the Panthers let him depart and finished 2-15 last season.
Darnold’s lifetime quarterback rating is 78.3. He has thrown 63 touchdown passes and 56 interceptions in the NFL. He is regarded as one of the top backup quarterbacks in his league, but he hopes to turn a year in the 49ers system into a starting job—somewhere.
