The holdout, mostly attributed to Sam Darnold’s agent, is over, as the quarterback will sign a fully guaranteed deal with just over $30 million with the New York Jets.
It took a little longer than anticipated, but Sam Darnold is officially a New York Jets employee.
The third overall pick of last spring’s draft, according to Adam Schefter, is set to sign a lucrative rookie deal on Monday, cashing in with $30.25 million over four years. Darnold is at the Atlantic Health Training Center at Florham Park, where the Jets began their 2018 training camp proceedings last week.
Sam Darnold now officially has agreed in principle, per source. $30.25 million contract is fully guaranteed and includes a $20 million signing bonus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2018
Darnold’s holdout, according to sources like The Associated Press, came primarily at the behest of his agent, Jimmy Sexton, who sought no offsets in the deal, providing the Jets security if Darnold was cut and picked up by another team.
With no offsets, Darnold would receive money from both the Jets and a potential new team. Others, such as Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media, reported the main point of contention of the deal was guaranteed money.
This isn’t the first time Sexton has squabbled with the Jets over a prominent quarterback. Part of Creative Artists Agency, Sexton served as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s agent during tense negotiations in 2016.
Darnold, 21, is expected to compete with veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting quarterback job. Should he beat them out, he would become the first rookie start games under center for the Jets since Geno Smith started all 16 games of the 2013 season.
With Darnold’s signing, Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith, April’s eighth overall pick, is the lone rookie holdout yet to sign.
Update
It’s now official:
The deal is done.
Details on #SamDarnold signing → https://t.co/gdskN90c4d pic.twitter.com/UX0bQLkkgT
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 30, 2018
Sam Darnold officially arrives at Jets camp. pic.twitter.com/vMpsmEdm0Z
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) July 30, 2018
