49ers radio broadcaster Greg Papa on Monday weighed in on the team’s backup quarterback situation during his radio show on KNBR in San Francisco. According to Papa, the battle between Sam Darnold and Trey Lance is not much of a battle at all with Darnold well ahead of Lance.
In fact, Papa believes Darnold is not only clear of Lance, but he could be making it a battle atop the depth chart with starter Brock Purdy.
“To me Darnold is clearly a better player than Trey Lance. It’s not close,” Papa said. “If they had to play a game, I think it’s Sam. And I think Sam can push Brock Purdy, honestly. They love Brock, and he processes fast. If Darnold gets this offense down, his throwing arm is elite. There is no doubt.”
Perhaps Papa is just projecting his own opinion here. It’s worth noting though that he was very vocal early in last year’s preseason about Purdy surpassing Nate Sudfeld in the QB pecking order.
The notion that Papa’s opinion here is informed by things he’s hearing from inside the building isn’t totally outrageous.
It’s easy to imagine Darnold eclipsing Lance in the backup QB battle based on Sunday’s action. He looked significantly more comfortable during the team’s preseason opener than the more inexperienced Lance.
What’s more difficult to envision is Darnold suddenly pushing Purdy for the starting job given the confidence the 49ers have placed in the second-year QB since he returned from offseason elbow surgery. However, if Darnold really is rising quickly up the depth chart and closing the gap on Purdy, it could mean Purdy’s leash during the regular season gets significantly shorter.
Papa went on to say that he believes the 49ers are assessing now Brandon Allen vs. Lance for the third QB job, which could wind up throwing a massive wrench into what we believed San Francisco’s QB room would be this season.
