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New York Jets: 7-Round 2018 mock draft after early free agency

By Michael Pallas

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to throw against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half of the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 29: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to throw against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half of the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles out of the pocket during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 18: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles out of the pocket during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Roger Goodell could very well step to the podium with these words, “With the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns select…Baker Mayfield, quarterback, University of Oklahoma.” Then, you will hear some booing in the crowd, but it won’t be Browns fans booing, but Jets fans, because they so desperately want Mayfield and hoped he’d fall to them at No. 3. That said, this would be the #SuckforSam movement coming to fruition, and Darnold is not a terrible consolation prize.

From a talent and look standpoint, Darnold has everything you want in an NFL quarterback. He’s 6-3, 220 pounds, mobile, can make all the NFL throws, read through the progressions and Darnold can throw guys open with anticipation. I don’t believe in the term can’t-miss, but he has a high floor and a high ceiling, which makes him as close to can’t-miss as possible.

There’s one issue with Darnold: fumbles. He lost 13 lost fumbles in his two seasons with the Trojans. He has a bad tendency to run around (while looking to pass) with the ball loose for defenders to easily strip away. If he can fix that, he’ll be great.

He could step in right away and start, but he doesn’t need to. The Jets can give him time to grow, even if it ends up being sometime in the middle of the season like Deshaun Watson. He’s the franchise quarterback the team has been searching for.

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