The 49ers actions have told us that they intended on Sam Darnold being the backup quarterback all along. The team inked Darnold to a one-year deal on Monday, March 13, which was when the tampering period began. So, technically, they signed Sam before free agency even started.
At the time, it felt like the most Kyle Shanahan signing ever, as San Francisco had been linked to Darnold on multiple occasions. There was one report that said the Jets turned down a first-round pick from the 49ers for Darnold one offseason. The following year, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the Niners took a hard look at Darnold in free agency.