The 49ers ’hopes of something strange happening ahead in this year’s draft faded Monday when the Jets traded quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers.
Darnold’s departure from New York leaves the Jets without a signal to exit and cement what has been speculated throughout: they are drafting a quarterback.
That was probably the case even if Darnold stayed, but his presence left some room for the little ones in the second selection. Maybe a team dropped the Jets with an offer to advance to the 49ers, or maybe they could draft a non-quarterback to try to improve the roster around Darnold. That stage was long shot, but they were on the table whenever Darnold was nearby.
Instead, New York chose not to leave any doubt. They sent Darnold to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a trio of draft picks. They will draft a quarterback after the Jaguars select Trevor Lawrence, and the 49ers will have a chance to choose between quarterbacks.
There is still some uncertainty at number 2, although he could throw a key at the top of the draft. BYU QB Zach Wilson is expected to be No. 2 overall. If the Jets pass it, there could be chaos at number 3 or later. While most of the uncertainty is gone, it remains to be seen whether the second selection will still come with some intrigue for the 49ers.