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New York Jets: 3 Reasons Gang Green will win AFC East in 2018

By Michael Pallas

28 Jul 1998: General view of the new helmets for the New York Jets during the 1998 New York Jets Training Camp at the Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport
28 Jul 1998: General view of the new helmets for the New York Jets during the 1998 New York Jets Training Camp at the Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport /
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ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC gestures after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC gestures after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. Sam Darnold

Darnold may be a rookie, but that doesn’t mean he can’t succeed early. In 2012 we saw two rookies lead their teams to division titles. Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck were both drafted in the top-3 of the 2012 NFL Draft, and then won the NFC East and AFC South, respectively.

Darnold also has the skills and weapons to succeed in the NFL. He’s mobile, has good arm strength and is accurate, and his wide receivers, tight ends and running backs will be able to be reached on all levels (per Pro Football Focus).

https://twitter.com/PFF_Jets/status/994222905767718913

The receivers are also reliable, as they were tied for the fourth fewest drops in the NFL in 2017. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets only dropped 22 passes all season.

So when you combined wide receivers with speed and reliability with arm strength and accuracy of a quarterback, that’s a dangerous mix. Darnold is a rookie, and as all rookies he does have things to work on, but that doesn’t stop the Jets from enhancing his NFL-ready skills.

For Darnold, though, it’s not just the offensive fire power that makes this team dangerous. Football is the ultimate team game, and that’s why this is No. 1 on the list.

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