It’s a good thing the New York Jets didn’t buy into the whole #SuckForSam narrative. Because it doesn’t look like Sam Darnold is leaving USC.
With the New York Jets sitting at 3-4, the last thing on their mind is the 2018 NFL Draft. But alas there always seems to be updated #SuckForSam odds on my Jets feed.
According to Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft Insider Matt Miller, the Jets would have the 10th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft if the season ended today.
Updated draft order:
1 Browns
2 49ers
3 Giants
4 Colts
5 Bengals
6 Buccaneers
7 Ravens
8 Cardinals
9 Raiders
10 Jets— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 22, 2017
Long story short, the Jets seem to be out of the Sam Darnold conversation. Early prognostications have Darnold as a lock to be a top-three pick in the upcoming draft. But there’s a twist—NFL Insider Benjamin Allbright reveals that Darnold is unlikely to leave USC this year.
USC source says Darnold is unlikely to leave this year.
Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson & to a lesser degree Josh Rosen your viable QBs.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) October 23, 2017
Can you blame Darnold? He’s looked like hot garbage this season. While his stats—2,292 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions—may suggest a respectable season, the preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy has been anything but respectable.
When you look beyond the box score you see a quarterback who’s been skittish in the pocket, has played badly in situational football and simply hasn’t lived up to the billing as a potential franchise quarterback in the NFL.
That’s why you play the games folks. Everyone who was ready to crown him the next great NFL QB before the season even started has suddenly gone silent.
The same goes for those who wanted to crown the Jets as the worst team in football before they even laced up the cleats. This team may be under .500 but it has legitimate playoff aspirations. Especially when you consider how the rest of the NFL has performed thus far.
So it’s safe to say the #SuckForSam campaign is derailed or at the very least muted for the time being. Although Allbright is a trusted NFL guy, I’ve heard this song and dance before both ways on Darnold’s status.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Right now, I believe that he would stay if asked today. Although the season doesn’t end today, so he still has time to turn it around and will have a bowl game in which to strut his stuff.
How Do the Jets Look At QB Now?
After seven weeks of play, the Jets still need a franchise quarterback. Josh McCown has played extremely well so far this season. Forgetting about his last pass against Miami on Sunday, that is.
But we’ve seen no Christian Hackenberg so far this season. No Bryce Petty either. If the Jets keep competing, we won’t see either of these guys by season’s end.
The script hasn’t changed for the Jets. They’re still going to find their quarterback in future NFL Drafts and, ideally, in the 2018 NFL Draft. Right now they’re on the outside looking in as it pertains to the Josh Rosen, Darnold, Lamar Jackson, and even Mason Rudolph conversation. They’re going to need to suck the rest of the season or trade the farm at draft time in order to snag one of them.
