Share
Sports

Jets draft franchise QB at No. 3

Share

With the third overall selection of the 2018 NFL draft Thursday night, the New York Jets selected USC quarterback Sam Darnold.

It’s a move befitting a team that has been burned with busts at the position and is looking for a relatively safe bet.

For all of his strengths and weaknesses as a passer, Darnold has one key advantage over his fellow first-round quarterback prospects that will never change — Darnold is a startling 20 years old right now.

A rebuild, especially one of such monumental proportions, will take time. Darnold has time.

But if age were the only thing that mattered in the NFL draft, toddlers would be sure-fire first-rounders.

Trending:
Lib Host Jon Stewart Overvalued His Home By 829% After Saying Trump Civil Case Is 'Not Victimless'

How does Darnold project as an NFL quarterback? That’s a bit tricky.

His greatest strength, and perhaps this is damning with faint praise, is his relative lack of weakness.

Darnold doesn’t have the arm strength of a Josh Allen, but it’s still decidedly above average. He doesn’t have the mobility of a Baker Mayfield, but he’s more than capable of escaping a congested pocket to keep plays alive. He doesn’t appear to as cerebral as a Josh Rosen, but no scout is going to ding Darnold for a low football IQ.

No, Darnold does everything you’d want an NFL quarterback in 2018 to be able to do. He might not have any truly “elite” facets of his game, but he also is not lacking in any crucial aspect of his game.

If Darnold does have one trait creeping toward being considered “elite,” it’s his poise. He began to face quite a bit of pressure in his last year at USC, especially once injuries started to riddle his offensive line. Apparently, it didn’t matter.

Can you imagine what he could do with an actual NFL offensive line protecting him?

That’s not to say that Darnold is flawless. He has one glaring issue that keeps him from being a bona fide can’t-miss prospect: turnovers.

Do you think this was a good pick by the Jets?

Of note, turnovers, not accuracy, are Darnold’s issue. He actually completed a very respectable 64.9 percent of passes. That’s not great, but it’s certainly not terrible, much like Darnold’s draft profile.

Related:
NFL Pundit and Former Player Roasted for Suggesting Fans Wear Pink Nail Polish to Support Projected No. 1 Pick

But the turnovers are certainly a cause for pause. In his two years as the Trojans’ starter, Darnold coughed up a worrisome 36 turnovers to the tune of 22 interceptions and 14 lost fumbles. That’s not ideal, especially as Darnold prepares to transition to an even higher level of competition.

Turnovers can be worked on but are unlikely to ever go away fully. Just look at Eli Manning. Either way, it’ll take time to know if Darnold’s turnover issues are fixable or indicative of a broader problem. But time is the one thing Darnold has right now, especially considering his age and the franchise he’s now expected to save.

Sam Darnold will almost certainly not be terrible, but it’s also unclear just how good he might be. If he can just decrease the turnover rate, he has all the tools to be a fantastic NFL quarterback.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
,
Share
Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics.
Bryan Chai has written news and sports for The Western Journal for more than five years and has produced more than 1,300 stories. He specializes in the NBA and NFL as well as politics. He graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. He is an avid fan of sports, video games, politics and debate.
Birthplace
Hawaii
Education
Class of 2010 University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN.
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English, Korean
Topics of Expertise
Sports, Entertainment, Science/Tech




Conversation