Sam Darnold, the former No. 3 pick for the Jets, has been named second on the depth chart for the San Francisco 49ers. After spending last season with the Panthers, the quarterback has a fresh start to be the first clipboard holder for the reigning NFC West Champions. Coach Kyle Shanahan has been complementary of Darnold’s style and arm talent, and it seemed fitting that the team would bring him in to compete for the backup job behind Mr. Relevant, Brock Purdy.

The 49ers have dealt with plenty of injuries so this move should prove relevant as the season goes along, in case of a Purdy injury or benching for performance. The reclamation project in Darnold might be another feather in the cap for Shanahan, who is hailed around the league as an offensive guru.

As far as Trey Lance, the team’s own No. 3 overall pick from 2021, this could signal the end of the line for the quarterback with only 4 starts to his name. With the leagues implementation of the new Emergency QB rule, this proclamation may mean absolutely nothing for the team itself, but in case it doesn’t and a trade is likely, a fresh start may be needed for Lance to gain any reps in the future.