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As the NFL quarterback carousel begins to spin, teams would be interested to see if the Jets are ready to jump.
ESPN reported on Sunday that several teams have contacted the Jets to express interest in negotiating for Sam Darnold. The report, citing sources, said the Jets had not refused the calls, but also failed to indicate which direction they would take the quarterback.
The fact that the Jets even answer calls shows just how seriously they plan to move on from Darnold, the quarterback they drafted No.3 overall in 2018 to be their franchise quarterback. As of the 2019 bargaining deadline, Jets general manager Joe Douglas said Darnold was the only player on the roster he wouldn’t even call.
Now he is at least listening.
The Jets have a major quarterback decision to make this offseason. They could draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick or stay with Darnold. There is also Deshaun Watson weighing in on all of this. The Texas quarterback has requested a trade and the Jets are in a good position to trade for him with the No.2 pick as the centerpiece of a trading set that can feature up to three first-round picks. So far, however, Houston has said it does not trade Watson and has fended off all suitors.
A source said there was still a lot of debate inside the Jets about Darnold. Some believe Darnold can be saved with better coaching and a better supporting cast. Others are ready to leave the 23-year-old.
Whatever the Jets decide will have long-term implications for the Jets, Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh.
A lot of quarterback movement is expected this offseason. It started last week when the Lions sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams for Jared Goff and a package that included two first-round picks. There are several reports that the Eagles are close to selling Carson Wentz.
As the quarterback musical chair game continues, there will be fewer suitors for Darnold if the Jets decide to deal with him. It has been reported that the Bears, 49ers, Colts, Panthers and the Washington football team all contacted Stafford before he was traded.
Darnold won’t go looking for two first-round picks like Stafford, but people around the NFL think the Jets could get at least a second-round pick for Darnold and maybe a late first round.
A lot of people loved Darnold coming out of USC in 2018 and surely there are some coaches in the league who believe they can get him to play better.
Darnold was largely a disappointment with the Jets. He threw 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions as the team went 13-25 with him as the starting quarterback. Darnold’s backers highlight the lack of talent Darnold had around him and the poor coaching from Adam Gase and Jeremy Bates. In 2020, Darnold’s passer rating of 72.7 was 35th out of 35 quarterbacks in the NFL.
The Jets looked like they were on their way to No.1 pick and Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, which would have made Darnold’s decision easier. But they won two games in December after starting the year 0-13 to give the Jaguars the No.1 pick. The best quarterbacks after Lawrence are BYU’s Zach Wilson and Ohio State’s Justin Fields, but he didn’t. There is no consensus on whether one or the other should be drafted second.
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