3 sleeper teams that could be perfect fits for Sam Darnold

As Sam Darnold heads into his last handful of games with the New York Jets, these three teams stand as sleeper teams who might be a perfect fit.

In this week’s dose of “Captain Obvious,” New York Jets head coach Adam Gase acknowledged he hasn’t done what he was hired to do–develop quarterback Sam Darnold.

“I came here to help him and help him develop his career and we haven’t been able to do that. That’s why these games are so important, to help him continue to grow. “I haven’t done a good enough job.”

“At the same time, that’s what’s frustrating about the quarterback position, you do need 10 other guys to do their job as well. When he throws one of those really good balls and it’s dropped, that’s frustrating.”

Darnold has missed four games this season due to a shoulder issue, and it’s worth wondering if he’s 100 percent healthy. He has gone without a touchdown pass in each of his last four starts entering Sunday, while taking 16 sacks over that span.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, if Darnold didn’t throw a touchdown pass within his first eight attempts on Sunday he’ll become the first player in the last five seasons to go 150 pass attempts without a scoring pass. Sunday’s game against the Raiders is also an interesting tent pole for Darnold.

Update: Early in Sunday’s game, Darnold is 4-for-8 for 53 yards… and a touchdown.

Per the New York Post:

“Last Nov. 24, Darnold threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-3 Jets win over the team that then played in Oakland. A year later, Darnold faces the Raiders again Sunday — this time the Las Vegas Raiders — but Darnold faces them in a major slump. That game last year is the last time he has thrown for 300 yards in a game.”

Last year’s game against the Raiders was the last time Darnold threw for more than 270 yards in a game, a mark he has reached once since.

Jets are 0-11, and virtually assured of no worse than the No. 2 pick in next April’s draft (Trevor Lawrence or Josh Fields). The only reason to keep Gase at this point is to go all-in on finishing 0-16.

The Jets have a decision on Darnold’s fifth-year option for 2022. But it feels like a no-brainer not to, given it’ll be an estimated $25 million guaranteed. They could cut him before next season, and take a $9.6 million dead money hit (before March 1).

The more-likely scenario is general manager Joe Douglas will trade Darnold, with a lack of leverage reducing what probably won’t be a great return anyway.

Escaping the Jets and Gase will benefit Darnold greatly.

3 sleeper teams who could fix Sam Darnold

3. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are committed as a practical matter, for better or worse, to Jared Goff for at least a couple more seasons. But they could use a viable backup, if only in case of injury apart from Goff’s ups and downs that invite talk of benching him.

It’s telling that head coach Sean McVay went away from the typical, canned quarterback commitment lines after Goff struggled in Week 12.

Darnold of course played collegiately at USC, so a return to southern California might appeal to him as much as he’d have say in where he lands (unless he’s cut). And the ability to take a step back as a backup, even for one year while learning at the feet of McVay, might be just the thing to get Darnold’s career on the right track.