Jets GM Open to Moving Sam Darnold
Jets general manager Joe Douglas didn’t say that the team was actively shopping Darnold, but he told reporters that “if calls are made, I will answer them.” A change of scenery would seem to benefit both parties at this point. The Jets struggled mightily with Darnold under center last season, and he limped to an average of 5.2 adjusted yards per attempt. That was the second-worst mark in the league for qualified quarterbacks, just barely edging out Dwayne Haskins’ mark of 5.1.
Despite Darnold’s struggles, there still appears to be a market for the young signal-caller. He’s still just 23 years old, and it’s fair to say that the Jets didn’t put him in the best position to succeed. A better supporting cast could bring the best out of Darnold, who was once considered an elite quarterback prospect.
The Jets are widely expected to take a new quarterback with the second pick in the draft. They have also been listed as one of DeShaun Watson’s preferred trade destinations, so it’s still possible they make a run at the disgruntled superstar. Regardless, it seems unlikely that Darnold will be under center for the Jets in 2021.