Sam Darnold traded to the Carolina Panthers for 3 draft picks

[True Dough]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Three years after hailing him as a franchise savior, the New York Jets traded Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers on Monday, ending months of intense speculation about their quarterback plans.

In return for Darnold, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2018, the Jets received three picks: a sixth-rounder in the 2021 draft later this month and a second-rounder and fourth-rounder in 2022.

Without a proven quarterback on the roster, the Jets are expected to select Darnold's replacement with the No. 2 overall pick in the April 29 draft in Cleveland (on ESPN and the ESPN App). The leading candidate is BYU's Zach Wilson, who has met virtually multiple times with the Jets' brass.

If the Jets do select a quarterback at No. 2 overall they would become the first team in the Common Draft Era (since 1967) to select two quarterbacks within the top three overall picks in a four-year span, according to ESPN's Stats & Information.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31199202/new-york-jets-trade-qb-sam-darnold-carolina-panthers-3-draft-picks

Link to tweet

[padfun]

1. I think that's a good trade for both teams

Nt

[underpants]

2. The Panthers got Darnold without giving up a #1?

I think Carolina has their QB for a while.

[Marcuse]

3. I think it's a good trade for Darnold.

[True Dough]

4. It could be an upgrade for Darnold

Judging by offensive lines, Carolina was superior to the Jets last season. But I'm not aware of departures or signings during this off-season that may have made a significant difference.

The receiving corps is not great on either team.

[calguy]

6. Every QB for the NYJ dies there.

There's no future for any QB there. I'm sure Darnold is the happiest guy in town, now that he's leaving town. Anywhere is better than New York.

[Auggie]

7. But there's a new sheriff in town ...

Robert Saleh's hire as head coach will be a killer story to follow in the next few years.

[exboyfil]

5. So where will Bridgewater go?

That was a huge misjudgment by Carolina last year. They are still in the hole for $10M cap loss even if they find a trading partner. Without a partner it is $23M cap loss or two QBs both thinking they are starter caliber with a $23M cap hit and still owing $5 million next year.

[underpants]

8. Tough but accurate assessment from ESPN here. 50/50 draft guess on a QB on the cheap.

It was a lot of give up without getting any #1’s

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/85928/jets-gm-joe-douglas-takes-legacy-defining-risk-by-dealing-sam-darnold

This was a difficult, multilayered decision, one that sparked debate within the organization. In the end, it feels like a mistake, a blown opportunity to cash in a winning lottery ticket.

The trade means the Jets are prepared to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, probably BYU's Zach Wilson, the Zac Efron look-alike with ridiculous arm talent who raised his stock with a fantastic season against one of the softest college schedules in the country.

And so ends another sad chapter in Jets history. Three years ago, they celebrated Darnold's arrival. Now they couldn't wait to get rid of him.

In 2018, the Jets found a shiny new toy under their Christmas tree, but they didn't read the instructions manual and wound up breaking it. Maybe he would've turned out this way under optimal conditions, but we'll never know. That part is hard to reconcile. If Darnold lights it up with the Panthers, it will be yet another damning indictment of the Jets' Way.

[True Dough]

9. Would you gamble on Zach Wilson?

Although he shone, he wasn't facing the best of the best at the college level. Not even close. Very hard to say how he'll hold up at the NFL level. He may prove to be no better than Darnold.

[underpants]

10. That was a big focus of the article.

Mel Kiper said Wilson’s sugar level was high given the cupcakes he faced. The fact that Wilson wasn’t voted a team captain is considered heavily by draft experts. The plus side is that he will be under a rookie contract vs $18 M for Darnold. This gives the Jets some room to improve on the line and defense - always the best long term investment for a team.

Darnold really came out in one spectacular bowl game (I’d never seen him before) and they really didn’t get much of a good look at him. Horrible team and remember he had mono in the 2019 season. Plus he’s only 23 so he’s just now getting his man body as well as being adjusted to the speed of the league. I still can’t believe they didn’t get at least one #1 for him.

[True Dough]

11. underpants!

The question was whether you would be comfortable pulling the trigger on Wilson when those identified risk factors exist. If you were part of the Jets' front office, would you be advocating to draft Wilson or would you encourage the organization to go with Justin Fields? Or even Trey Lance or Mac Jones?

[underpants]

12. Oh. No.

Sorry I was giving the background as I saw it.

Wilson has Trubinsky or Akili Smith written all over him. One year starting. Regardless of competition or having a track team around them that’s just not enough.

Lawrence Yes. Mac Jones HELL NO - his athletic DNA says clipboard and ball cap.