Each NFL team’s biggest reason to be excited in 2018
New York Jets – Dawn of the Sam Darnold era
Pretty much since Joe Namath, the Jets have lacked stability and/or a bright future under center. The latest anointed great glimmer of hope is Darnold, the No. 3 pick in April’s draft. He didn’t sign until a few days into training camp, but the USC product got some first-team practice reps immediately upon arrival and has (as expected) a “fair shot” to earn the starting job.
Sam Darnold “has a very fair shot” of winning Jets’ starting QB job for regular-season opener, per sources. He has to keep progressing, preseason will be critical, and he probably is a year away, when he turns 22. But Jets love what they see and he has a legit chance to win job.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2018
The aged Josh McCown and the guaranteed nothing besides the possibility of a trade Teddy Bridgewater are Darnold’s competition for the starting job. So he would probably have to be injured or an outright disaster during the preseason to not be starting Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, in the first game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. But the Jets surely want to make him earn the job, and McCown would actually be a solid fallback option after playing pretty well last year.
Darnold may not turn into a star immediately, with a serious lack of talent around him. But the anticipation surrounding him is plenty enough to create excitement in Jets’ camp (and into his rookie season until further notice), as the team tries to finally get the most important position on the field right for the long haul.