New York Jets: Forget Sam Darnold, focus on Trevor Lawrence

The New York Jets should switch their focus to Trevor Lawrence as Sam Darnold regresses.

The New York Jets have been the polar opposite of good this year. In fact, by most metrics, they’ve been outright terrible. While many have blamed head coach Adam Gase, it’s time for Jets fans to realize that quarterback Sam Darnold is not the answer for the franchise — and the team should instead focus on Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

In year three, Darnold has looked worse than he has at any point in his NFL career. This is his second year in the same system yet, fundamentally, he has become a worse quarterback with career-lows in nearly every statistical category.

Darnold’s footwork has gotten worse, his pocket presence is non-existent, he has called the wrong protection packages and has shown an inability to move off of his first read, which has had some devastating results.

The last point is the most disturbing, considering by the third year in the league, you’d hope a quarterback would be able to go through progressions or at least provide some type of manipulation to stop the defense from keying in on who he intends on throwing the ball to.

It’s these reasons why the team (and fans) need to accept that Sam Darnold is not the answer, and instead solely put their focus on acquiring Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

Trevor Lawrence, not Sam Darnold, is the future of the New York Jets.

Lawrence is currently the most hyped college quarterback since Andrew Luck nearly a decade ago and for good reason. Lawrence has great athleticism, allowing himself to be a weapon in the pocket, as well as outside of it.

With the ability to excel under pressure it would bring something the Jets desperately need and haven’t had at the quarterback position in a while, one with the poise to make the right play while the defense is bearing down on them.

Despite playing on an admittedly stacked team, there’s a reason why Lawrence is labeled as a “can’t miss” prospect. He’s shown incredible touch and location with the football, and with the ability to throw (and run) while on the move it provides a wrinkle in the offense to cause defenses’ fits.

At 0-7, it’s become clear that the New York Jets need a lot of help. Perhaps the biggest position of need is one they tried addressing three years ago by drafting Sam Darnold. While Darnold has shown bursts of acceptable play, it’s just not enough to invest in the player after a tremendous, and disappointing regression seen in his third year in the league.

As of now, the Jets are slated to get the 1st overall selection for the 2021 NFL Draft. If Joe Douglas plans on rebuilding the right way without taking any further hit to his resume thus far, the team will forget about moving forward with Sam Darnold and instead focus on building around, and with, Trevor Lawrence as the new starting quarterback of the New York Jets in 2021.