NFL Rumors: 49ers FA Sam Darnold, Vikings Agree to Contract After Kirk Cousins Exit
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Photos
After spending the 2023 season as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers, Sam Darnold has reportedly agreed to a model out the Minnesota Vikings.
Per NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Darnold agreed to a one-year deal worth $10 million.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
A brand unique QB in Minnesota: The #Vikings are expected to signal #49ers QB Sam Darnold, per me and @TomPelissero.
Darnold gets a 1-year deal worth $10M, sources inform, and joins former teammate Josh McCown, who is Minnesota’s unique QB coach.
Kirk Cousins out, Darnold in. pic.twitter.com/QzrZDJ1Sdq
The news comes after Kirk Cousins agreed to a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Pelissero reported Cousins’ deal shall be worth $180 million.
When there became once uncertainty about Brock Purdy’s elbow closing offseason after he had surgical treatment to restore a torn UCL, the 49ers signed Darnold to a one-year, $4.5 million deal as an insurance protection.
The 49ers already had Trey Lance, the No. 3 absorb the 2021 NFL draft, on the roster at the time. It wasn’t at once obvious if Darnold’s arrival became once going to signal the tip of Lance’s time within the Bay Topic.
Coming out of practicing camp and into the preseason, when it grew to was obvious Purdy would be healthy to launch up the ordinary season, Darnold beat out Lance to be the No. 2 quarterback.
Lance became once because of the this fact traded to the Dallas Cowboys, making sure Darnold steadily is the backup all season. The 26-year-former seen action in 10 video games this season, basically in rubbish time or a pair of cases when Purdy left resulting from an damage.
After the 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed within the NFC playoffs in Week 17, Darnold became once given the launch up within the ordinary-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. He went 16-of-26 for 189 yards and one touchdown in a 21-20 loss.
Being ready to work in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s machine might per chance per chance well also objective maintain equipped a spark that Darnold can lift with him one day. He showed some sure signs all during the 2022 season.
In six starts for the Carolina Panthers, Darnold threw for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. The crew went 4-2 in those six video games, while going 3-8 in 11 video games with Baker Mayfield and PJ Walker.
Darnold shall be part of a Vikings squad that went 7-10 closing season, as Cousins became once restricted to upright eight video games resulting from an Achilles damage.
