The New York Jets are moving on from former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold so they can take a quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft with the No. 2 overall pick.
Darnold has been traded to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft and a second and fourth-round pick in 2022.
This gives Carolina and head coach Matt Rhule a young quarterback to continue to build with, while giving the Jets a fresh start with a young quarterback of their own.
Darnold has been in the league three years and is still only 23, making him just two years older than Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson — one of whom is likely to be the next quarterback in New York.
Darnold was actually good in 2019 as a second-year pro, topping 3,000 yards passing and going 7-6 in his 13 starts. But last year, as the Jets took a major step backward, so did Darnold.
He now gets a fresh start with the Panthers, where he will compete with Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job.
The Panthers went 5-11 with Bridgewater in 2020 but can release him prior to the 2022 season and only take on $5 million in dead cap money.
That’s also the season that Darnold will be due an extension in the event his fifth-year option isn’t picked up.
Whoever is under center for the Jets come September, they’re presently priced as a steep longshot of 75-to-1 to win Super Bowl LVI.
Darnold Deal Ominous for Watson Trade Value
First, it was potential Deshaun Watson trade partner San Francisco using three draft picks to move up and position itself for a new quarterback.
Now it’s Carolina moving on from its interest in Watson by trading for Darnold. The Panthers had been considered a serious player for Watson as they were clearing space to possibly take on his contract.
As news of a 22nd civil case against Watson broke on Monday, any leverage the Texans might have had in a trade a month ago is now completely gone, and there are almost no potential trading partners left at the table.
Houston currently sits in last place on the AFC South betting board, with a +1200 odds at BetUS sportsbook.
Falcons Shopping No. 4 Overall Pick
Matt Ryan will be 36 when the 2021 season kicks off in September, but complimentary reports seem to indicate that the Falcons have no interest in moving on from the former MVP.
Ryan has an active streak of 10 straight seasons of at least 4,000 yards passing, the best in the NFL, and his current contract has three years left and carries more than $40 million in dead cap money through 2022.
Plus, the word now is that the Falcons are willing to listen to trade partners for the No. 4 overall pick should a team want to move up and put themselves in a position to draft Fields, Wilson, or Trey Lance (whoever is still on the board).
Both the Broncos and Lions have been mentioned as possible trade partners with the Falcons.
Detroit has extra first-round picks in both 2022 and 2023 because of its trade for Jared Goff, who they can move on from in 2022 with a cap hit of only $10 million.
The Atlanta Falcons sit at the bottom half of teams’ odds for winning the NFC at +2500.
