With just under two weeks until the beginning of 2021 NFL year of the league, Sam Darnold’s future as the New York Jets starter in QB continues to dominate the headlines. Although Tony Pauline, a senior draft analyst at PFN, reported for more than a month that the Jets are not actively buying Darnold, it appears that they are willing to take calls. In addition, many in the league who spoke to Pauline believe that parting ways with Darnold is the most sensible thing for Jets GM Joe Douglas.
At the this week’s Draft Insiders program, Pauline reiterated this feeling saying: “Remember what I said a week ago. Many people in the league feel that it is in Joe Douglas’s interest to switch Darnold, to move from Darnold and use that second selection on a quarterback like Zach Wilson if they cannot switch to Deshaun Watson. “
Why is Sam Darnold’s situation so important for Joe Douglas’ term?
As noted in a previous article, Joe Douglas did not bring Sam Darnold. The third overall choice of the 2018 NFL Draft was the Jets QB when Joe Douglas arrived. This has always given the GM of Jets some leeway, some kind of excuse, for the failure of his mandate so far.
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With the arrival of new coach Robert Saleh, there is an opportunity for a new start. They now have the opportunity to dictate the direction of the franchise. Future success depends on these decisions. On the other hand, a decision that ends up failing will either make or destroy Joe Douglas as the GM of the Jets. That is why it is so important for Douglas in particular.
“If he stays with Darnold, and Darnold is the defender in 2021, and Darnold falls apart, and ends up being a bad decision, it could be sooner or later for Joe Douglas.”
As Pauline previously reported, the feeling is that if the Jets GM is developing a new QB, he will have time to fully assess the success of that decision. It’s a luxury he just doesn’t have with Darnold.
What is the market for the QB Sam Darnold jets?
If the Jets decide to separate from their previous choice of the first round, will there be a market for him? According to Pauline, it definitely exists. The GM of the Jets may not be actively buying your current quarterback. However, the phone is ringing.
“I think the fact that people are calling for Sam Darnold, which should come as no surprise, because I reported this in November, when it looked like the Jets were done with Darnold. There are a lot of people in the league who still value him. They still think he is a good defender, he just needs to be trained properly. “
The last point is perhaps the most important
It is easy to point to numbers – just 8,097 passing yards in three seasons, a touchdown rate of 39:45 for interception and an average completion percentage of less than 60 percent – and to say that the Jets QB has been ineffective. But he has been under the guidance of Adam Gase for two years. Despite all of Gase’s reputation as a “QB whisperer”, Ryan Tannehill is an excellent example of a quarterback who thrives as soon as he leaves his clutches.
Could it be the same for Sam Darnold?
“He showed a lot of brilliance throughout his rookie career to make you believe he was the defender of the future. The Jets finally pulled the trigger and caught the guy from the franchise. In the past two years, there have been remnants and remnants of that. He has had mono two years ago, he has had an injury this year, and throughout – both seasons, he is dealing with Adam Gase, and he has never shown any development. The main point is this, he is a tough guy, he is a tough guy. I also believe that he is a motivated defender. I think there is still a lot of football in Sam Darnold. Is it just that this is football with the New York Jets? “
What are the JB QB options going forward?
As pointed out during the Draft Insiders, in the negotiation deadline of last year, Jets GM Joe Douglas said he was willing to listen to all players’ offers. Except for the Jets franchise quarterback. At the time, he placed Sam Darnold in that category. If he is listening to calls to Sam Darnold now, it would certainly indicate that they no longer see him as the QB in the Jets franchise.
Of course, now they are in a fantastic position from the point of view of the NFL Draft. With the second selection in April, they must choose any unnamed defender Trevor Lawrence. If popular opinion is to be believed, then it will be Zach Wilson or Justin Fields.
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Alternatively, they are one of the few teams with the capital to play for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. They could use choice # 2 – with the potential extra choices of a Sam Darnold deal – and any other capital that they can demand and guarantee a proven commodity in the most important position in the game.
That would carry the least risk of all for GM Joe Douglas. The NFL Draft is the ultimate lottery. In addition, the Jets have already shown that preparing a QB in advance is no guarantee of success. Either way, both options seem to carry less risk and a greater chance of job security for Joe Douglas than keeping Sam Darnold as the Jets’ QB.
“It is a big decision that they have to make. And the fact is this – if you stay with Darnold, he falls, Joe Douglas is in trouble. I think it is a matter of Douglas will be on a shorter tab if they keep Sam Darnold. “
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a writer for the Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.