There have been a ton of moving parts this offseason. The San Francisco 49ers have had countless players leave town over the last couple of weeks.
The 49ers have also had to watch as their rivals make additions in free agency. One of the biggest moves in free agency was when the Seattle Seahawks signed QB Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal that included $55 million guaranteed.
Darnold was the best QB on the market and got paid like it. During his opening press conference on Thursday, Darnold gave some props to Brock Purdy for helping him reach a new level.
He said Purdy helped him become a "point guard" and get the ball to his playmakers. The USC product stated, "That's where it unlocked for me."
Sam Darnold just credited Brock Purdy for helping him become a "point guard" and getting the ball to playmakers.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 13, 2025
Darnold: "That's where it unlocked for me."
Sam Darnold Gives Props to Brock Purdy
Darnold spent the 2023 season with the 49ers as Purdy's backup QB. In that season, Purdy completed 69% of his throws for 4,280 passing yards with 31 passing touchdowns. The 49ers had four players record at least 560 receiving yards, including two players with more than 1,000 yards.
Darnold took what he learned in San Francisco and dominated with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. He ranked fifth in the NFL in passing yards (4,319) and passing touchdowns (35).
He did an exceptional job taking advantage of starting in Minnesota and used what he learned from his previous stop to elevate his play.
Now, Darnold is the quarterback with the Seahawks and is set to battle against the 49ers twice a year. While the Seahawks had Geno Smith before, Darnold gives them the potential of being their franchise quarterback. He's only 27 years old and is coming off the best season of his career.
Purdy didn't know that Darnold would be playing in the division when he was helping him out in 2023, but that's how the cookie crumbles sometimes.