The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with quarterback Brandon Allen, who becomes the frontrunner for the top backup spot behind Brock Purdy. Sam Darnold, who was in that role in 2023, will become a free agent on Wednesday. Purdy and Allen are the only quarterbacks on the roster who are signed for the 2024 season.
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How he fits: Allen is well-liked and well-respected in the locker room, including by Purdy. He served as Joe Burrow’s backup with the Cincinnati Bengals for three seasons before joining the 49ers as their No. 3 quarterback last season. Allen looked good in training camp last year, but as the emergency, No. 3 quarterback, he did not play a regular-season snap in 2023.
2024 impact: Allen will serve as a guide, mentor and end-of-blowouts quarterback for the 49ers unless there’s a serious injury to Purdy. If that happened, the 49ers’ season would hinge on Allen’s play.
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History: Allen’s most impactful season came in 2020 when he started five games for the Bengals. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes, throwing five touchdowns against four interceptions. Cincinnati was 1-4 in those games.
Cap update: The details of Allen’s one-year contract haven’t been revealed yet but the deal is likely modest. He had a $1.1 million base salary in 2023, for example.
Outlook: Allen is unlikely to have a big impact on the 2024 season unless there’s an injury to Purdy, who suffered a major injury at the end of the 2022 season but who was largely healthy in 2023. He started every game but the regular-season finale for which he was a healthy scratch. Look for the 49ers to add one more quarterback to the roster, perhaps in next month’s draft.
(Photo: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)