FLORHAM PARK, NJ – New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas, who once considered Sam Darnold untouchable, was evasive on Tuesday about whether Darnold will return as a full-back in 2021.
Douglas postponed, saying the next coach will be “a big part of that” decision – one that could have a major impact on the NFL off-season and the 2021 draft. The Jets, choosing second, could prepare Darnold’s replacement.
“Look, we have a lot of decisions to make,” Douglas said in an end-of-season conference call with reporters. “I think Sam is going to be a great defender. I’m excited to bring a coach here and go through our process.
“I think Sam has a very bright future in this league. Let’s call a head coach here, let’s get together and talk about some decisions. I’m excited about that, Sam.”
Douglas’s praise sounded moderate, compared to previous public comments about Darnold.
In the 2019 negotiation deadline, Douglas said he would listen to the negotiation offers to all players on the team except Darnold. In the middle of the 2020 season, he said of Darnold: “I have no problem saying that he is our best defender and our defender of the future”.
That was when the team was 0-8. The Jets finished 2-14 and 32nd in total attack, resulting in the expulsion of coach Adam Gase. Darnold was the lowest scoring passer in the league (72.7).
Obviously, Douglas was not about to destroy his quarterback. The Jets will keep him positive during the off-season because they don’t want to sabotage Darnold’s commercial value if they decide to move from third overall choice in 2018 – a decision that would shake the league’s quarterback market.
Douglas did not say whether he believed Darnold had regressed.
“I think Sam faced a lot of obstacles this year, as well as everyone (due to) COVID,” he said. “Frankly, we had some injuries in the offensive line and in the wide receiver position. It was difficult for our attack in general to build the kind of sustained chemistry to create success throughout the year.
“All of these things impacted not only Sam, but our attack. I think you saw, in December, Sam played very good football. We managed to beat two teams in the playoff. A lot of that is because of the way Sam played.”
The Jets surprised the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns, with Darnold passing for three touchdowns and a 382-yard pedestrian. He played ball without spin in those games, but ended the season with a two-intercept performance in the loss to the New England Patriots.
Douglas has not shed much light on the search for coaching, except to say that he is looking for a “great partner” with leadership, communication and managerial skills. The Jets requested permission to speak to at least six NFL coordinators. Douglas said he will not run away from a university technician without professional experience, as long as the candidate possesses the qualities that he covets in a principal technician.
Douglas said the Jets will launch “a very wide network” while looking for Gase’s replacement. The Jets could change their organizational structure, ending the current configuration that has the GM and the trainer subordinate to the property.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Douglas, adding that any structure will work as long as he finds the right coach.