Report: 49ers adding Darnold on 1-year, $4.5M deal

The San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with quarterback Sam Darnold, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The deal is worth $4.5 million with $3.5 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Darnold spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He began the 2022 campaign on the sideline due to injury and only made his season debut in Week 12. The 25-year-old completed 58.6% of his passes for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns against three interceptions in six starts last year. Carolina went 4-2 with him under center.

The USC product began his career with the New York Jets, who drafted him third overall in 2018. Darnold didn't live up to the hype with New York, leading the team to trade him to Carolina in April 2021.

Darnold has averaged a 59.7% completion rate with 3,572 yards and 19 touchdowns to 17 interceptions per 17 games played throughout his NFL career. He'll join a 49ers quarterback depth chart with plenty of question marks.

San Francisco currently rosters quarterbacks Trey Lance and Brock Purdy. Lance, 22, is recovering from a season-ending ankle injury he sustained in Week 2 last year, while Purdy, 23, is expected to miss approximately six months following recent elbow surgery.

Lance, the third overall pick in 2021, began last year as the team's starter until suffering his injury. Jimmy Garoppolo replaced him under center and started 10 games before a foot ailment sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign. That development made room for Purdy, who helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game against the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie. Purdy sustained his elbow injury in the first quarter versus Philadelphia.

Garoppolo, 31, reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year, $67.5-million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday.

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