It seems that the New York Jets will be going back to the very start of a rebuild, and with head coach Adam Gase expected to be fired eventually, rumors have started circulating that the team may consider trading young quarterback Sam Darnold as well.
It makes sense, as the Jets could be in the running for the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, with many mocks projecting would be where Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be selected.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, if the Jets do opt to trade Darnold, many executives believe that they will be looking to receive similar compensation to what the Miami Dolphins paid to acquire Josh Rosen from the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 (a second and fifth round draft pick).
“I don’t think they’d get a [first-round pick] for Sam, but it also depends what he puts on tape the rest of the year,” one general manager said, per the report. “The problem is, [Darnold] is struggling with his accuracy, his durability — so they’re in a tough spot. And if everyone knows the Jets are taking a quarterback, then they won’t get as much back.”
“The high-water mark would be a [second-round pick] for him,” another general manager said over the weekend. “I think they could get a [fourth-round pick] for him, but if he finished positive for him, they might get a 2 for him. In college, he was a turnover machine. In the NFL, he has been a turnover machine. I just don’t think he has the credentials to go for a 1.”
Darnold, 23, has completed 59.4% of his passes this season for 792 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions for the hapless Jets this season.
