Jets Front Office Split On Trading QB Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold's chances of returning in 2021 seemed to improve when the New York Jets hired Coach Robert Saleh, but the front office may not feel the same now as they did just a few weeks ago.

Darnold, 23, was drafted by the Jets in 2018, and after 38 NFL starts, he has a 59.8% completion rate, 78.6 passer rating and averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt in three seasons.

From the 2019 to 2020 season, the QB's passer rating regressed from 84.3 to 72.7. Last season, he finished with a career-worst 6.1 ypa, Yardbarker reports.

In 2020, Darnold went 2-of-10, completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,208 yards and nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions, but New York’s offense has arguably had the worst weaponry in the NFL over the past three seasons.

After three seasons, New York’s general manager Joe Douglas has seen enough of Darnold and wants to take a chance on a rookie quarterback, the article details.

But new head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur appear inclined to stick with Darnold, believing that the quarterback wasn’t coached very well and had a poor supporting group around him.

At the beginning of the month, Douglas said he believes the 23-year-old is "an extremely talented player" and said he has "no doubt" Darnold will reach his "outstanding potential."

Yardbarker reports that, despite several poor performances since entering the league, some executives still believe that Darnold is a starting quarterback, per ESPN's Dianna Russini.

Eight teams have contacted the Jets about a trade for Darnold, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports. It's not known which teams are interested at this time.

Draft Pick Position

The Jets previously traded their sixth-rounder to the Patriots in September 2019 for WR Demaryius Thomas, but they got the same pick back from the Patriots in the AFC East teams' 2020 draft-day swap of third- and fourth-round selections, NYJets.com reports.

The Jets have five picks in the top 86 of this year's draft — the most picks the team has had in the top 100 since they had five picks in the top 100 of the 2006 and 2000 drafts, the team said.

"The Jets also traded away two picks," NYJets.com reports. "Their sixth-round selection that went to the Patriots in the original 2019 D.Thomas deal, and their seventh-rounder, which they sent to San Francisco along with DL Jordan Willis for the 49ers' sixth-round choice in 2022."

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Megan graduated from the University of Central Florida and writes and tweets about anything related to sports. She replies to comments she shouldn't reply to online and thinks the CFP Rankings are absolutely rigged. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.