NFL Rumors: Lamar Jackson plays hardball, D-Hop goes east, and a relevant update on the 49ers’ QB room
By Kristen Wong
Today’s NFL rumors concern Lamar Jackson putting the Ravens through the ringer, DeAndre Hopkins potentially joining an AFC East team, and the 49ers’ new leader of the clubhouse.
Nearly two weeks into free agency, the NFL has already given us some gobsmacking headlines. Add this one to the list: Lamar Jackson stabs his own team in the back.
The buzz around Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens continues to grow louder even as Jackson’s trade market remains relatively the same. Things recently turned ugly in Baltimore when Jackson made a deliberate move to ambush his organization, which could be more telling of Jackson’s current unappealing situation than it is of anything else.
As expected, there continue to be rumors connecting DeAndre Hopkins to a number of playoff contending teams, but one whisper out of the woodwork may be the most convincing argument yet. And finally, San Francisco could be ready to salute its leader of the clubhouse, making one formerly irrelevant draft pick very, very relevant indeed.
Here are today’s three biggest NFL rumors.
NFL Rumors: 49ers believe Brock Purdy has “earned the right” to the starting job
After a few months of speculation, the San Francisco 49ers have released their prognosis of how the QB room is developing so far, and a clear winner is emerging.
2022 seventh-rounder Brock Purdy is currently going through rehab for elbow surgery, but once he returns to full health, he could have a starting job waiting for him in the 2023 season.
San Francisco general manager John Lynch gave the team’s biggest endorsement of Purdy yet, saying that “Brock has earned the right with the way he played” and that “he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse.”
From NFL Now: #49ers QB Brock Purdy is the leader in the clubhouse to be their starter. pic.twitter.com/nXkfEa8t4l
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2023
Purdy tore a ligament in his throwing elbow in the first quarter of the NFC Championship and underwent surgery on March 10; as things stand, he’s expected to recovery in time for training camp.
His main competition is Trey Lance, the 2021 first-rounder who started for the 49ers last season before getting shut down due to injuries. God forbid another plague wipes out their two starting quarterbacks, San Francisco finally has ex-Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold to round out the group.
Purdy a.k.a. Mr. Irrelevant started his career under everyone’s radar as literally the final pick in the 2022 draft, and he’s now in the lead for the franchise’s starting quarterback job come next season. If that doesn’t prove the beauty of democracy, we don’t know what will.