New York Jets should consider sticking with Sam Darnold in 2021
It might sound crazy, but the New York Jets should keep at it with Sam Darnold.
Just a week weeks ago, the New York Jets appeared destined to land the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and the right to select Clemson product, Trevor Lawrence. With this, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold would be on his way out of New York and quarterbacking another offense.
Well, that was all before the Jets went on a two-game winning streak and allowed the Jacksonville Jaguars to lock up the No. 1 seed and the rights to Lawrence’s NFL career. While many have criticized the Jets for winning and getting out of that top spot, this isn’t the end of the world for this organization and it now gives them another chance to further evaluate Darnold, who they just took No. 3 overall less than three years ago.
Darnold hasn’t been great, but it’d be unfair not to point out that the talent around him hasn’t been great either. The offensive line needs a lot of work and he could use legitimate weapons to throw to. Now that Darnold’s weapons are healthier, we’re starting to see him perform better.
The New York Jets have to make a decision on Sam Darnold and they need to do so before the draft.
While they didn’t get the No. 1 pick, the Jets are locked in for the No. 2 overall pick. They won’t have a shot at Lawrence, but otherwise, anyone they want is theirs for the taking. If they decide they want to go with Ohio State’s Justin Fields or BYU’s Zach Wilson at that spot, then that’s a choice they’ll have to make.
A better strategy, however, could be to stick with Darnold and use that No. 2 pick as a way to arm Darnold with talent. They could take someone like Penei Sewell, this draft class’s best offensive line prospect, at No. 2 overall or they could trade that No. 2 pick and get more draft selections and continue to build this team.
All of this is going to depend on how the Jets view Darnold moving forward. He’s been playing well to close out the 2020 season and has done his part in ensuring his team wouldn’t have the rights to get Lawrence, which could be a career-saving move for the Jets quarterback. In the Jets’ two wins, Darnold has thrown for 382 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He hasn’t thrown a pick since Week 13 against the Raiders.
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The Jets are going to have to decide what they want to do with Darnold this offseason. He might have played well enough down the stretch to have deserved one more season and maybe, just maybe, if the Jets provide him with an offensive line and more weapons, they’ll see the quarterback they thought they were getting with the No. 3 overall pick.