It’s easy to pair the 49ers with a free agent or a player made available – especially if the position in San Francisco is required. On Monday, there were several reports announcing that the Arizona Cardinals would divorce CB Patrick Peterson.
Peterson has a decorated career because he was selected to eight Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro pick for the first team three times. Peterson turned thirty last year, and we know history is not on his side.
Peterson has traveled most of his career with No. 1 receivers, which has not changed this past season. Peterson allowed a percentage of 62.1 on 66 targets, had four breaks, three distinctions, but also six touchdowns per Sports Info Solutions. Peterson also missed 12.3% of the time. SIS scored 29 points for Peterson last season, with Peterson allowing 8.6 yards per target.
Let’s compare it to Jason Verrett, assuming the 49ers spend ‘big’ on one cornerback during a free agency. Verrett allowed a percentage of 66.1 at 6.5 yards per target. He broke five passes, had two interceptions while giving up one score. Verrett also missed a pack 10.4% of the time per SIS.
The difference between the two is that 2019 was the only time Peterson missed several games during a season, while 2020 was the first time Verrett played double-digit games since 2015.
Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline believes the 49ers call Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold:
Will the Philadelphia Eagles trade Carson Wentz?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz could be involved in a trade package within days. So, where will he end up?
Sources tell me that Chicago Bears are currently the forerunners to get Wentz into a deal. However, do not discount the Indianapolis Colts or San Francisco 49ers.
Moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo for Wentz will hurt the place. I’ve seen some fans say that the team did not have to get rid of Jimmy if they were to buy Wentz, but that investing so much in a rugby quarter makes no sense, especially if you have a salary cap.
Wentz has physical tools better than Garoppolo, which enables Kyle Shanahan to do more on offense. However, physical tools get you just as far. If you have to guess yourself over a quarter, from how he plays on the field to when he can endure injury-wise, he’s probably not your guy. In this case, I would allow someone else to fix Wentz if I were the Niners.
As for Darnold:
Carson Wentz is not the only quarterback who can be traded. Sam Darnold is the other quarterback whose name was recently launched as a signal caller. This is more the result of teams inquiring about Darnold instead of the Jets actively buying their first pick in the first round of 2018.
Sources tell me they feel it’s a real possibility that the Indianapolis Colts will end up with Darnold. Yet the 49ers will also be in the mix.
I’ve watched enough of Darnold to form an opinion. The Jets have had almost nothing this past season, especially early in the year. Their offensive plan was a disaster. Darnold makes some ‘wow’ throws that will make you sit up straight. Darnold will follow the performances with some stinkers who want you to put the game out. Darnold is a great athlete who, thanks to mobility, can run out of pressure and turn negative plays into positive plays.
All of this is true when it comes to Darnold. It’s easy to understand why a coach like Shanahan would be interested in Darnold. Unlike Wentz, Darnold does not need to be ‘corrected’, so to speak. He needs to be harnessed if it makes sense. In essence, the 23-year-old quarterback should know that it’s OK that he is not going to play the home field every time he falls back.
I know if you do not know the name of Pauline, it would be easy to dismiss these rumors, but he has been for a while and is generally linked to what is going on in the league. It is also understandable to be tired of the rumors of the quarterback linked to the 49ers.
The team calls. It is naive to think differently. Yes, Albert Breer reported that the 49ers were not for Matthew Stafford. That means Vegas, Peter King and Adam Schefter were wrong. Schefter reported Sunday that the 49ers were one of the teams that reached Stafford.
More and more Darnold to the 49ers rumors have surfaced as we have three different talking heads suggesting the German Golden Nuggets are paired. John Clayton added:
If they [Jets] decides to trade him [Darnold], there will be a lot of interest. If the Colts can not get Wentz, they will make a big push. The San Francisco 49ers would consider him a possible upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo. And not counting the Carolina Panthers.
There are too many connections to ignore the Niners’ potential interest in Darnold. If it looks like a duck and acts like a duck, then it probably is ….