NFL Quarterback Power Rankings 2020: Patrick Mahomes is head of the class

Sam Darnold‘s raw talent far outstretches his current production. In each of his first two seasons, the USC product couldn’t get in a rhythm. When he settles down, Darnold looks like New York’s best quarterback since Chad Pennington. However, between being bombarded by opposing teams’ defenders and the local media, Darnold can’t settle down.

Darnold missed several games last season with Mononucleosis, something the New York media hounded him for. When he did return to action, Darnold still looked off of his game. Mono can cause an extreme loss of weight in a very short time, and the young quarterback had yet to regain all of his weight when he returned to the field.

Then, in a Week 7 shutout defeat against the New England Patriots, Darnold admitted to “seeing ghosts” while being mic’d up. In the loss, Darnold completed 11 of his 32 pass attempts for 86 yards and four interceptions. He also lost a fumble.

It’s undeniable that Darnold disappointed through his first two seasons in the league, but he also flashed moments of brilliance. For instance, he completed 69.0 percent of his pass attempts for 315 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-3 Week 16 rout of the Raiders. Once the Jets expand Darnold’s supporting cast, he can begin delivering consistent performances.