Former Cowboys G makes bold Sam Darnold for Brock Purdy proposal amid 49ers QB's rumored $60,000,000 deal
Former Cowboys offensive lineman and NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger believes that the 49ers should forgo Brock Purdy and give Sam Darnold a contract instead in 2025. The San Francisco starter is on his rookie deal and is expecting a new contract that will put him close to $60 million per year, which is what Dak Prescott is making as the highest-paid player in the NFL right now.
Brock Purdy has led the 49ers to two NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance so that might seem justified but Brian Baldinger believes that the current season is a better representation of what each quarterback is worth. Sam Darnold has led the Vikings to a 12-2 record this year and the team is vying for the top spot in the NFC. That led the analyst to conclude,
"I'd flip him [Purdy] for Sam Darnold. Let's just think about Sam for a second. He sat there as a backup all year and learned how a first-class franchise game plans. He saw that for the first time in his life. Now he's with Kevin O'Connell who's an elite playcaller with a very, very good offense and he's flourishing."
Baldinger believes that it makes sense because the Minnesota quarterback was with the 49ers last year and knows the offense. He has also shown what he can do as a starter when he gets competent play-callers like Kevin O'Connell, just like Kyle Shanahan is in San Francisco.
Brian Baldinger says Vikings might be willing to explore Sam Darnold trade with 49ers to replace Brock Purdy
The analyst added to that by saying that Minnesota might be willing to trade him because they have a replacement in J.J. McCarthy, whom they took in the 2024 NFL Draft. He continued,
"And Minnesota doesn't have to commit anything to him right now. They have a quarterback they drafted. They don't have to give him top-flight money. Or they could trade him. I would be having a conversation with Minnesota to see what it would take to get Sam Darnold back."
Brian Baldinger also advocated for the Vikings star over Brock Purdy because his physique is better, noting,
"He's bigger and stronger than Brock. Or can you play with both of them and have a competition? I would be interested to see what it would take to get Sam Darnold."
It must be reiterated in this context that the 49ers had him last year and let Darnold walk and went ahead with Brock Purdy as their starter for 2024.