For two straight offseasons, the New York Jets enjoyed the unusual luxury (for them) of not having to worry about the quarterback position. Sam Darnold was their guy, and there was every reason to believe he would be the guy for a long time.
Then the 2020 NFL season happened. Darnold played poorly. He got hurt. The team stunk. The coach got fired. Now, with multiple avenues with which to improve the position, Jets officials are refusing to commit to Darnold as their starter for 2021. We still love you, Sam, but ...
"To give you that answer right now would not be fair," Jets coach Robert Saleh said at his introductory news conference. "There's a lot of discussions that need to be had with Joe [Douglas] and his staff."
Douglas, the general manager, has three months to resolve the most vexing issue facing the organization. In a vacuum, the Darnold decision would be tough enough, but it's complicated by what could be the wildest offseason for quarterback movement in recent memory.
Pros: He's still young (turns 24 in June) and still hasn't had the benefit of playing with a strong supporting cast. In three seasons, Darnold has had virtually no running game. Saleh has spoken highly of Darnold, and he's not blowing smoke. He believes there's untapped potential that can be extracted with better coaching and a scheme change. Darnold would be a good fit in LaFleur's quarterback-friendly system, which uses play-action, misdirection and moving pockets.
Cons: Darnold still isn't adept at reading defenses; he gets into trouble because he sometimes doesn't see beyond his No. 1 read and the primary defender. No doubt, he has room to grow, but recent history tells us it's rare for quarterbacks to make a quantum leap after three or four years in the league. Darnold was the lowest-rated passer in 2020 (72.7). Let's say he improves to the 15-20 range. Can the Jets live with that? Is that worth the long-term contract extension he would seek after the '21 season? There's also a durability question; he has missed 10 games in three years because of injury and illness.
Cap impact: He has one year remaining on his rookie contract ($9.8 million cap charge). The Jets have until early May to make a decision on his fifth-year option for 2022 (about $25 million, fully guaranteed). It makes little sense to make that kind of commitment based on his body of work, so we're probably talking about a one-year audition in 2021. If he sputters, he probably walks as a free agent, and the Jets will have to package their two first-round picks in 2022 to find a replacement. If Darnold excels, it means a lucrative new deal.
Eye-popping stat: Darnold recorded the fifth-highest completion percentage (92.3) when under no pressure and throwing to wide-open receivers (at least 3 yards separation), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's what you call optimal conditions.
The good, the bad and the ugly is Sam Darnold but the potential is still there if the right coaching staff surrounds him. Finally it seems that the right staff, scheme and now is to build the players to fulfil this plan and let him continue to build the chemistry and continuity with his team mates, to start all over again should not be choice unless it is a last resort. Draft capitol, cap space and a full competent front office with the right structure in place should make Jets fans happy and gitty but like normal they are ready to throw in the towel to start all over again from scratch. Thank goodness Sam Darnold doesn't surf social media he would crumble from all the negative reports on him and how they don't support him.
Then the 2020 NFL season happened. Darnold played poorly. He got hurt. The team stunk. The coach got fired. Now, with multiple avenues with which to improve the position, Jets officials are refusing to commit to Darnold as their starter for 2021. We still love you, Sam, but ...
"To give you that answer right now would not be fair," Jets coach Robert Saleh said at his introductory news conference. "There's a lot of discussions that need to be had with Joe [Douglas] and his staff."
Douglas, the general manager, has three months to resolve the most vexing issue facing the organization. In a vacuum, the Darnold decision would be tough enough, but it's complicated by what could be the wildest offseason for quarterback movement in recent memory.
Pros: He's still young (turns 24 in June) and still hasn't had the benefit of playing with a strong supporting cast. In three seasons, Darnold has had virtually no running game. Saleh has spoken highly of Darnold, and he's not blowing smoke. He believes there's untapped potential that can be extracted with better coaching and a scheme change. Darnold would be a good fit in LaFleur's quarterback-friendly system, which uses play-action, misdirection and moving pockets.
Cons: Darnold still isn't adept at reading defenses; he gets into trouble because he sometimes doesn't see beyond his No. 1 read and the primary defender. No doubt, he has room to grow, but recent history tells us it's rare for quarterbacks to make a quantum leap after three or four years in the league. Darnold was the lowest-rated passer in 2020 (72.7). Let's say he improves to the 15-20 range. Can the Jets live with that? Is that worth the long-term contract extension he would seek after the '21 season? There's also a durability question; he has missed 10 games in three years because of injury and illness.
Cap impact: He has one year remaining on his rookie contract ($9.8 million cap charge). The Jets have until early May to make a decision on his fifth-year option for 2022 (about $25 million, fully guaranteed). It makes little sense to make that kind of commitment based on his body of work, so we're probably talking about a one-year audition in 2021. If he sputters, he probably walks as a free agent, and the Jets will have to package their two first-round picks in 2022 to find a replacement. If Darnold excels, it means a lucrative new deal.
Eye-popping stat: Darnold recorded the fifth-highest completion percentage (92.3) when under no pressure and throwing to wide-open receivers (at least 3 yards separation), per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's what you call optimal conditions.
The good, the bad and the ugly is Sam Darnold but the potential is still there if the right coaching staff surrounds him. Finally it seems that the right staff, scheme and now is to build the players to fulfil this plan and let him continue to build the chemistry and continuity with his team mates, to start all over again should not be choice unless it is a last resort. Draft capitol, cap space and a full competent front office with the right structure in place should make Jets fans happy and gitty but like normal they are ready to throw in the towel to start all over again from scratch. Thank goodness Sam Darnold doesn't surf social media he would crumble from all the negative reports on him and how they don't support him.
