The San Francisco 49ers have made a major move in the quarterback position, benching rookie Trey Lance and naming Sam Darnold as their backup quarterback. This move comes after Lance was selected with the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and was expected to be the starter for the upcoming season.
The 49ers have been looking for a reliable quarterback since the retirement of Hall of Famer Joe Montana in 1995. Lance was seen as the answer to their long-standing problem, but it appears the team is not ready to put him in the starting role just yet. Instead, they have chosen to go with Darnold, who was acquired from the New York Jets in a trade earlier this year.
Darnold has had an up-and-down career since being drafted third overall in 2018. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but has also been plagued by inconsistency and injuries. He is still just 24 years old and has plenty of potential, but it is clear that the 49ers are not ready to put their faith in him just yet.
The move to bench Lance and name Darnold as the backup is a surprising one, but it could be a wise decision for the team. Lance is still a raw prospect and needs time to develop before he is ready to take over the starting role. By having Darnold as the backup, the 49ers can give Lance time to learn and grow without having to rush him into action.
The move also gives the 49ers a reliable backup option in case starter Jimmy Garoppolo gets injured or struggles. Darnold has proven he can be a capable starter in the NFL, and having him as the backup gives the team a safety net if things don’t go as planned with Garoppolo.
Overall, this move by the 49ers shows that they are taking a cautious approach with their young quarterback. They are not ready to put all their eggs in one basket just yet, and instead are taking a measured approach with Lance while having a reliable backup option in Darnold. Time will tell if this move pays off for the team, but for now it appears to be a smart decision.