Sam Darnold was a highly sought out prospect in college. While playing for the USC Trojans, his draft stock rose and increased significantly. Some experts were also labeling him as the next franchise quarterback for the next 15 years. In 2018, the New York Jets drafted the quarterback with the third overall pick. Everyone was excited about the future. However, things weren’t too bright the first few years in the NFL for the young quarterback. It also doesn’t help when coaching isn’t the greatest either or your team doesn’t put much around you to succeed. Today, the Jets have decided to trade Sam to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and two draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
I’m not too surprised this happened. The Jets fired Adam Gase after the 2020 season and then hired former 49ers defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh as their next head coach. Whenever a team hires a new head coach, they usually want things done their way and nothing from the previous coach. That’s exactly what’s happening here with this trade taking place. Sam isn’t as bad of a quarterback as people make him out to be. I feel you’re as good as the pieces around you. That’s the thing though. He didn’t have much, to begin with. On the field, I like what he’s capable of doing. Sam is mobile and can extend plays with his feet in or out of the pocket. He releases the football quickly and makes all the necessary reads. I’ve seen him run for his life at times, but still finds a way to get the throw off. I like that he doesn’t force it. If the play isn’t there, he has the mentality to switch it up. One play I think of came against the Denver Broncos last year. Denver called a blitz, he picked it up and escaped from the pocket. Sam got the first down and more. It ended up being a touchdown.
While with New York, he did the best he could with what was around him. The Panthers have much better pieces in place than the Jets had the entire time he played in East Rutherford. He comes into a situation with a top-five running back when healthy in Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore is a serviceable receiver and Sam gets to reunite with Robby Anderson who played with him back on the Jets. This could be a win-win situation for both the Panthers and Sam.
