The backup quarterback is a spot that the 49ers have valued for years now and they will have to address it again with Sam Darnold becoming a free agent.
Backup quarterback is a position of need for the San Francisco 49ers that is sometimes overlooked.
The 49ers have treasured that place for many years. Given that their starting quarterbacks have only completed a full season twice under Kyle Shanahan, it’s understandable why they place so much emphasis on
Last year, the 49ers looked to Sam Darnold as a backup. He signed a one-year contract of $4.5 million, with playing incentives that could have increased his salary to $11.5 million. I honestly doubt the 49ers will offer him or any other backup QB a similar deal when free agency begins next week.
If that is the case, I am not sure if Darnold will be prepared to accept a lower pay this time around. The 49ers have plenty of options in free agency to evaluate. The 49ers can also look to the NFL draft to meet their need for a backup quarterback, but I believe they will sign someone now to establish a contingency plan. So, what will the 49ers do with their backup quarterback?
I believe the 49ers will first and foremost see if they can bring back Darnold. It may seem unusual for Darnold to return if the 49ers offer him a lower salary and no incentives. Signing with the 49ers made sense for him because his chances of playing were decent. But it never happened until the end of the regular season, when the 49ers were on their way to the playoffs.
