Reports: Former 49ers QB Sam Darnold agrees to deal with Vikings

Mar 11, 2024, 10:56 PM | Updated: 10:57 pm

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Sam Darnold #14 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after a touchdown run in the second quarter during a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The 49ers will go into 2024 with a few changes on the roster, including a new backup quarterback.

Reports Monday night stated that former San Francisco 49ers QB Sam Darnold had come to an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings. The deal is reportedly 1-year, $10 million, giving the journeyman gunslinger a chance to compete for the starting job.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first with the news. The deal can not be made official until Wednesday at 1 p.m. PST.

The Vikings have signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10M deal per @RapSheet pic.twitter.com/m2u2ajobEM

— PFF (@PFF) March 12, 2024

Sam Darnold, 26, spent one lone season with the Red & Gold, joining in 2023 on a one-year deal. Brought in as insurance for QB Brock Purdy, Darnold only started one game last season. In Week 18, he threw for 186 passing yards and one touchdown in a 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Prior to San Francisco, Darnold spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, starting 17 games. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. The USC product holds a 21-25 record as a starting QB, unable to find a long-term home in the NFL.

Sam Darnold joins the Vikings after it lost franchise QB Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons on a mammoth four-year deal. Holding the 11th pick in next month’s draft, selecting a franchise-caliber QB is well within the realm of possibilities for Minnesota.

But at the very least, Darnold will get a chance at starting in 2024.

The move leaves the 49ers with only two QBs on roster. QB Brandon Allen agreed to re-sign with the team Monday, setting himself up to be the Red & Gold’s backup in 2024.

49ers transactions
Coming
— DE Leonard Floyd (Bills)
— DE Yetur Gross-Matos (Panthers)
Going
— DT Javon Kinlaw (Jets)
— TE Charlie Woerner (Falcons)
— CB Isaiah Oliver (Jets)
Staying
— QB Brandon Allen
— OG Ben Bartch
— OT Colton McKivitz
RFA
— WR Jauan Jennings (2nd rd tender)

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) March 12, 2024