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New York Jets 2018 Training Camp Profile: Sam Darnold

By Michael Pallas

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball in the first half of the game against the Utah Utes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans passes the ball in the first half of the game against the Utah Utes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold has a lot to prove in 2018. Can he become the franchise quarterback immediately? Time will tell.

The rookies open training camp on July 24, and there’s one rookie everyone wants to see — quarterback Sam Darnold. Ever since he fell into the laps of the New York Jets at No. 3 in the 2018 NFL Draft, people have been clamoring for this day.

Darnold is the franchise quarterback very few thought they’d land, and when the Jets did, the excitement became palpable.

So what’s in store for the future of the franchise in 2018? Let’s take a look.

Training Camp Forecast

This training camp is like none other in recent Jets vintage. From the outside, it appears as if the quarterback room is solid. They have what they believe is the future at quarterback. They have a guy, who, if healthy, can stand in, and they have a veteran willing to work with the young pup.

When it comes to Darnold, though, camp is about one thing. He must show that the pressure of being the Jets franchise quarterback isn’t too much for him. He must be able to take the necessary steps to show that he can not only learn from the inevitable rookie mistakes, but that he can also grow. Frankly, by all accounts he has done just that in OTAs and minicamp.

He’s a smart guy, from all accounts. So he’s should be able to make the strides necessary to show the coaches he’s good enough to be the starter Week 1, but that’s all up to Darnold.

2018 Season Outlook

Some say that Darnold isn’t ready to start Week 1, and the Jets should just give him time. However, we won’t actually know until he’s put into a real NFL game that counts. Some say that the schedule is too difficult for him early on and the quick turnarounds the Jets have will hurt his ability to learn. That makes some sense, but still we will never know unless he’s actually put in that situation.

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Here’s what will happen. Darnold will prove to the coaches that he can handle things in New York, and he will start on Monday Night Football against the Lions Week 1, and the Jets will finally have the long-term answer at quarterback they’ve been search for for decades.

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