FLORHAM PARK, NJ – Three years after being hailed as a franchise savior, the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, ending months of intense speculation about their quarterback plans.
In exchange for Darnold, general election no. 3 in 2018, the Jets received three picks: a sixth in the 2021 draft later this month and a second and second in 2022.
Without a proven defender on the roster, the Jets are expected to select Darnold’s replacement with general election no. 2 in the April 29 draft in Cleveland (on ESPN and the ESPN app). The main candidate is Zach Wilson, from BYU, who has met with the Brass Jets practically several times.
The organization was in conflict with the decision to break up with Darnold, sources said. Jets coach Robert Saleh talked a lot about him, saying he has “incredible talent in his arms.” CEO Joe Douglas also praised him, but declined to work at Darnold last month and said he was open to opening commercial investigations.
Darnold has one more year left on his rookie contract, with a guaranteed salary and bonuses totaling $ 4.6 million. The Panthers must decide Darnold’s fifth year option for 2022 by May 3; the default amount is $ 18.8 million, fully guaranteed. He was supposed to count $ 9.8 million on the Jets ceiling, but will receive a $ 4.8 million exemption and a $ 5 million “dead” tax for 2021.
Darnold, 23, failed to meet huge expectations in New York. He showed promise at the end of his debut season, but returned under former coach Adam Gase, who was hired in 2019 – for the most part – to develop the former USC star.
In three seasons, Darnold was 13-25 as a starter, with 45 touchdown passes and 39 interceptions. He completed 59.8% of his subscriptions and never finished over 26 in the passer ranking.
He finished as the NFL’s lowest passer in 2020 (72.7), 36th out of 36 qualified defenders. His passerby rating is 78.6, which ranks 39th out of 39 in 2018.
Darnold has struggled with injuries and illnesses throughout his career. He missed three games as a rookie (leg sprain), three games in 2019 (mononucleosis) and four games in 2020 (broken throwing shoulder).
To be fair, he didn’t have much stability with the Jets, as he played under two head coaches and two different offensive systems. He also had no 1,000-meter player or 1,000-meter-wide receivers and played behind a constantly changing offensive line.
The Jets landed Darnold after a successful deal a month before the 2018 draft. Determined to pick a defender, they climbed three places to 3rd, sending three second-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts.
They didn’t think Darnold would be available in 3rd place, but the Cleveland Browns took a surprise by taking Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall. Back, Saquon Barkley went to the New York Giants, leaving Darnold at the Jets, who had listed him with defender no.
The property did not shy away from expressing its enthusiasm.
“It simply came to our notice then [people] they will look back over 20 years and say that this is the time when the Jets have turned into a new step, that they have become an excellent team, “Jets Vice President Christopher Johnson said a few days after the project.
Darnold started the opening day as a rookie, infamously throwing a pick-six at his first pass. He sat down and defeated the Detroit Lions in an explosion, exciting the Jets defender’s fans. He had a season up and down (17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions), but there were enough positives to make the organization think it had found a long-term answer.
It was only in the 2020 season that questions arose about his future. Darnold fought, injured his shoulder, and the team started 0-13, putting him in contention for choice no. 1 of the 2021 draft. With the speculation of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Darnold led the Jets to two wins in the last three games, leaving the franchise with no. 2.