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Post by crossfire on Mar 3, 2021 16:58:25 GMT -5
Jets’ Joe Douglas changes tune on Sam Darnold overtures
By Brian Costello March 3, 2021 | 3:39pm | Updated
Joe Douglas has a message for any teams interested in trading for Jets quarterback Sam Darnold: call me.
The Jets general manager confirmed Wednesday that he will not hang up the phone if teams call about Darnold, a reversal of what he said in October 2019 when he deemed Darnold untouchable.
But that is not the song Douglas was singing in 2019 at the trade deadline. After talking about fielding calls for Jamal Adams and Le’Veon Bell, Douglas said the only untouchable player is a franchise quarterback and he said Darnold was exactly that. He said Darnold was the only player he would not field calls on.
Things have changed since then. Darnold had a terrible 2020 season. His 72.7 quarterback rating was the worst out of 35 quarterbacks who qualified. He failed to have a 300-yard passing game and threw just nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Douglas and new coach Robert Saleh now face a decision of whether to stick with Darnold, who is entering his fourth season with the team, or move on by drafting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick or trying to swing a blockbuster deal for Texans star Deshaun Watson.
“Our timeline right now is gathering as much information as we possibly can, especially as it pertains not only in free agency, but in this year’s draft class,” Douglas said. “We feel like we’re really in no hard timeline in the immediate future to make a decision, but when we do make a decision, we’re going to do it after gathering as much good information as we can.”
The Jets plan on attending the Pro Days of the top college quarterbacks before making a decision. Teams have had limited exposure to draft prospects this year because of the pandemic. BYU quarterback Zach Wilson has his Pro Day on March 26. Ohio State’s Justin Fields will be on display on March 30.
“The Pro Day is extremely important,” Douglas said. “It’s just good to stand next to the quarterback, to see the spin off his hand, to see the ball jump off his hand, to feel his presence. Those are all important things.”
With free agency beginning on March 17, there is some speculation that the uncertainty at quarterback could hurt the Jets with free-agent wide receivers. Douglas downplayed that idea.
“I feel like we’re well positioned. I feel like this isn’t going to hurt us in terms of free agents,” Douglas said. “I feel like our evaluation, especially with the coaching staff that’s been the main thing we’ve been focused on. For the remainder of this week, we’re going to be on the phone with the agents of our own current players that are hitting free agency. I really don’t feel like that’s going to affect our free agent plans or player free agent plans as it pertains to us.”
Douglas spoke highly of Darnold, perhaps to keep his trade value high, without committing to the 23-year-old.
“I would say with Sam, our stance on Sam hasn’t changed,” Douglas said. “He’s an extremely talented player. He’s very smart, very tough. We have no doubt that Sam is going to achieve his outstanding potential. Obviously, we’re in the process of gaining as much information as we can leading up through free agency and the draft, but our stance on Sam has not changed.”
Except he’s now willing to pick up the phone.
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Post by vin on Mar 3, 2021 19:39:36 GMT -5
So....
Williams or Fields at #2 it is.
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Post by Jetworks on Mar 3, 2021 20:56:27 GMT -5
Douglas spoke highly of Darnold, perhaps to keep his trade value high, without committing to the 23-year-old.“I would say with Sam, our stance on Sam hasn’t changed,” Douglas said. “He’s an extremely talented player. He’s very smart, very tough. We have no doubt that Sam is going to achieve his outstanding potential. Obviously, we’re in the process of gaining as much information as we can leading up through free agency and the draft, but our stance on Sam has not changed.” Except he’s now willing to pick up the phone. Normally it doesn't figure for me, but for some reason seeing it this time, that just killed me. |
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Post by crossfire on Mar 3, 2021 22:22:41 GMT -5
We got a kid with potential and Chris Johnson destroyed him.
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Post by Hotman on Mar 5, 2021 6:07:24 GMT -5
We got a kid with potential and Chris Johnson destroyed him. Adam Gase is the coach of the future |
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Post by cgjet on Mar 7, 2021 10:41:17 GMT -5
Yeah, 23 years old, #3 overall pick and then he met Todd Bowles and Adam Gase. It seems like its about time for a few things to go his way. If he remains with the Jets and that could be a big "if," it would be really nice to see Lafleur work with him and reach the potential he has.
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Post by Trades on Mar 8, 2021 10:40:18 GMT -5
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Post by Jetworks on Mar 8, 2021 11:23:33 GMT -5
So 8 teams are willing to do us the favor of taking on our "bust." Good to know. |
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Post by vin on Mar 8, 2021 12:43:34 GMT -5
So 8 teams are willing to do us the favor of taking on our "bust." Good to know.
Well that's what posters like sadface(and others, not just him) have been saying so he must be a bust.
I guess perhaps 8 teams GMs are stupid or something...
yeah...let's go with that.  |
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Post by vin on Mar 8, 2021 12:45:42 GMT -5
From the article :
Per Breer, nobody has blown the Jets away with an incredible offer yet and the plan is still currently to wait until after they attend the pro days for NDSU’s Trey Lance (March 12), BYU’s Zach Wilson (March 26), and OSU’s Justin Fields (March 31) before making a final decision on Darnold’s fate.
That said, the team understands that by waiting past the start of free agency, franchises that are interested in trading for Darnold could go in a different direction at quarterback and lessen the market demand for the man who was the #3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
Teams that Breer anticipates being the most aggressive with Darnold are the Chicago Bears, Washington, and the San Francisco 49ers.
In the case of Washington and Chicago, Breer believes Darnold is their only chance at acquiring a young, potential franchise quarterback because both teams draft too low (#19 and #20 respectively) to come away with one of the 2021 draft’s top signal-callers.
As for San Francisco, the thought is that Darnold would be a strong fit in head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and could offer a young, cheap option to a team that has an uncomfortable salary cap situation and a large number of free agents that need to be paid.
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Post by frostlich on Mar 8, 2021 13:05:32 GMT -5
So if nothing grabs your attention for a Darnold trade the n why not keep him and still draft a qb at 2? Werent the chargers in a similar boat years ago with Brees and Rivers?
Also, the training camp and early season injuries inevitably happen. There will be a QB that goes down early and Jets could get good compensation at that time.
Jets are in the drivers seat imho. 2nd rounder doesnt get it done. Not at this point anyway.
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Post by crossfire on Mar 8, 2021 15:17:13 GMT -5
I’d love the get the WFT or Bears first round pick for Darnold but I would seriously consider trading Sam to SF for first round swap. We would get SF’s pick #12 & maybe a 4th rounder & they would get Sam & #23. Moving that far up I the first round would allow us to go after a top WR, OT or CB.
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Post by Touchable on Mar 8, 2021 15:39:07 GMT -5
I’d love the get the WFT or Bears first round pick for Darnold but I would seriously consider trading Sam to SF for first round swap. We would get SF’s pick #12 & maybe a 4th rounder & they would get Sam & #23. Moving that far up I the first round would allow us to go after a top WR, OT or CB. This has been my preferred route for a while now when it comes to trading Darnold. Ever since I saw it proposed in a mock a few weeks ago. It’s become increasingly obvious that the Jets are going to move on from Sam and that Watson is a pipe dream. Darnold and #23 for #12 is a good deal for both sides and pretty realistic if you ask me. Puts Darnold’s value at a high 2nd round pick. Walking away with Wilson/Fields at #2 and then grabbing someone like Slater, Pitts, Waddle or D.Smith at #12 would go a helluva long way towards building a rock solid foundation on offense. |
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Post by vin on Mar 9, 2021 9:55:28 GMT -5
I’d love the get the WFT or Bears first round pick for Darnold but I would seriously consider trading Sam to SF for first round swap. We would get SF’s pick #12 & maybe a 4th rounder & they would get Sam & #23. Moving that far up I the first round would allow us to go after a top WR, OT or CB. This has been my preferred route for a while now when it comes to trading Darnold. Ever since I saw it proposed in a mock a few weeks ago. It’s become increasingly obvious that the Jets are going to move on from Sam and that Watson is a pipe dream. Darnold and #23 for #12 is a good deal for both sides and pretty realistic if you ask me. Puts Darnold’s value at a high 2nd round pick. Walking away with Wilson/Fields at #2 and then grabbing someone like Slater, Pitts, Waddle or D.Smith at #12 would go a helluva long way towards building a rock solid foundation on offense. Still need to strengthen that O-Line.
Who was that Free Agent O-Lineman that was being talked about here that the Jets should go after?
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Post by crossfire on Mar 9, 2021 10:06:46 GMT -5
The O-line & WR group has to be greatly improved this off season. No matter who’s under center, we must finally give the QB the tools necessary to thrive.
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