With the NFL quarterback carousel starting to spin, teams are reportedly interested to see if the Jets are ready to jump on.
ESPN reported on Sunday that multiple teams have contacted the Jets to express interest in acting for Sam Darnold. The report, citing sources, said the Jets did not turn down the calls, but also did not specify which way they are headed with the quarterback.
The fact that the Jets even handle the phone calls shows how seriously they consider moving on from Darnold, the quarterback they fielded overall No. 3 in 2018 to become their franchise quarterback. On the 2019 trading deadline, Joe Douglas, Jets general manager, said Darnold was the only player on the roster he wouldn’t even call about.
Now he is at least listening.
The Jets have a major decision with the quarterback to make this off-season. They could draft a quarterback with the number 2 overall pick or stick with Darnold. Deshaun Watson also hangs above all of this. The Texas quarterback has requested a trade, and the Jets are in a strong position to trade for him with the No. 2 pick at the center of a trading pack that can contain up to three first-round picks. But so far, Houston has said they don’t trade Watson and has turned down all suitors.
A source said there is still much discussion within the Jets about Darnold. Some believe Darnold can be saved with better coaching and a better supporting cast. Others are ready to move on from the 23-year-old.
Whatever the Jets decide, it will have long-term implications for the Jets, Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh.
There are expected to be a lot of quarterback moves this low season. That started last week when the Lions sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams for Jared Goff and a pack of two first-round picks. There are multiple reports that the Eagles are about to trade Carson Wentz.
As the game of quarterback musical chairs continues, there will be fewer suitors for Darnold if the Jets decide to split him. The Bears, 49ers, Colts, Panthers, and Washington Football Team have all been reported to have contacted Stafford before he was traded.
Darnold won’t get two first-round picks like Stafford, but people around the NFL believe the Jets can get at least a second-round pick for Darnold and maybe a late first-rounder.
A lot of people loved Darnold who came out of USC in 2018 and there are certainly coaches in the league who think they can make him play better.
Darnold was largely disappointed with the Jets. He has thrown 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions while the team has gone 13-25 with him as their starting quarterback. Darnold supporters point to the lack of talent Darnold has had around him and poor coaching from Adam Gase and Jeremy Bates. In 2020, Darnold’s passer rating of 72.7 was 35th out of 35 qualified quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Jets looked like they were heading for No. 1 and Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, which would have made Darnold’s decision easy. But they won two games in December after starting the year 0-13 to give the Jaguars the No. 1. The best quarterback prospects after Lawrence are BYU’s Zach Wilson and Ohio State’s Justin Fields, but there’s no consensus on whether both should be lined up as high as No. 2 overall.