Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Sam Darnold might not have a lot of things going for him in recent seasons, but that appears to have no negative effect on his confidence. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Darnold said that he still believes he can be one of the best QBs in the NFL.

“As long as I know what we’re doing, what the defense is doing, I’m confident I can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Darnold told the media.

Darnold had a great start to the 2021 campaign before fizzling out as the season progressed. His struggles prompted the Panthers first to get involved in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes and then explore a trade for Cleveland Browns’ signal-caller Baker Mayfield. After neither option worked out, Carolina selected Matt Corral of Ole Miss in this year’s draft.

Still, Darnold is convinced that he can turn things around and finally reach the potential that got the New York Jets to take him third overall in 2018.

“Everyone, including myself, knows the situation,” he added. “But with that being said, it doesn’t change my mindset. I have a great attitude about myself going into every day.”

It is great to see Darnold being confident in his ability to overcome adversity. However, it is also safe to say that he is running out of time to make a name for himself in NFL. In his four years as a pro, he completed just 59.8% of his passes and threw 52 interceptions compared to 54 touchdowns. These and the rest of his numbers rank among the worst in the league during that period, so there is no doubt that the USC product is facing a big challenge if he wants to turn things around.

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Even if the Carolina Panthers didn’t want to bench starting quarterback Sam Darnold amid his poor performances in recent weeks, they will now have to do it. According to the team’s head coach Matt Rhule, Darnold is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him between four and six weeks.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rhule described the injury as an “incomplete fracture” and confirmed Darnold got hurt during Sunday’s 6-24 loss against the New England Patriots.

“I think [Darnold] knows that this is in his best interest to take care of this right now,” Rhule said via Pro Football Talk. “Obviously, he’d love to play, but player’s health comes first.”

In Darnold’s absence, his backup P.J. Walker will step as a starter under center. Walker played in three games this season, with most of his snaps coming in Week 7 when Darnold was benched late in a 3-25 loss to the New York Giants. He has only completed three out of 15 passes attempted while throwing for 33 yards.

The Panthers also made additions to their QB room, signing veteran Matt Barkley off the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. Barkley’s last action came in 2020 when he played as a relief in five games for the Bills and threw for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Sam Darnold, who joined Carolina in a trade from the New York Jets in the offseason, had an impressive start to the 2021 campaign. He led the Panthers to three straight wins while throwing for 888 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Since then, however, Darnold struggled and has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league. He had just one 300+ yards outing in six following games while managing only four passing TDs and throwing league-leading 10 picks. The Panthers have been 1-5 in that period.

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The New York Jets will have a new starting quarterback in the 2021 NFL season. The franchise officially confirmed on Tuesday that they traded signal-caller Sam Darnold, sending him to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for three draft picks.

The Jets will get a sixth-round selection in 2021 alongside a second-rounder and fourth-rounder in 2022, according to the announcement.

The move signals a full reset for the Jets as the franchise also hired a new coach earlier this offseason. Robert Saleh, the former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, took over the position from Adam Gase.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Jets general manager Joe Douglas said that the decision to trade Darnold was influenced by several factors. The first was the team’s draft position, considering they have the No. 2 pick in 2021 and have the opportunity to select a new franchise QB from a strong draft class.

“I think it’s safe to say, if our pick were a little later, we wouldn’t be having this discussion right now,” said Douglas.

He also added that the organization would be “comfortable with moving forward” with Darnold in this case: “We feel really good about the draft class as a whole and the quarterback class, specifically.”

According to Douglas, another reason was the ability to get some financial relief. Darnold would cost $28.7 million over the next two years compared to the $35 million they would spend on a rookie QB.

The Jets are widely expected to go for BYU’s Zach Wilson. However, several other young quarterbacks might be in play as well, including Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones, and North Dakota’s Trey Lance.

The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, get a quarterback with a high ceiling to provide competition for 2020’s starter Teddy Bridgewater. Sam Darnold is just three years removed from being the No. 3 pick, and the organization believes he can live up to his potential if put in the right situation.

Darnold made 38 starts for the Jets, posting a 13-25 record. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes as a pro while throwing for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions.

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Sam Darnold doesn’t seem to be a franchise quarterback in the eyes of the New York Jets. In a chat with reporters on Wednesday, Jets general manager Joe Douglas admitted that the team is willing to listen to offers for their No. 3 pick in 2018.

Douglas said that he still believes that Darnold has a future in the league but would take a call if a team is interested in him.

“As it pertains to Sam, we think Sam is a dynamic player in this league with unbelievable talent,” said Douglas. “He really has a chance to hit his outstanding potential moving forward. [But] if calls are made, I will answer them.”

Douglas being uncommitted to Darnold results from multiple options that the Jets have to address the position this offseason.

They own the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, which they can use to take another young signal-caller like BYU’s Zach Wilson or Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Another way to go is to package the pick with other assets to pursue a proven quarterback like disgruntled Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson.

There’s also a scenario where the Jets keep Sam Darnold and give him another year to prove himself, but this seems highly unlikely.

In his three years as a starter, Darnold failed to show that he can be a long-term solution for the Jets at the position. He compiled a 13-25 record while completing just 59.8 percent of his passes for 8,097 yards. The 23-year-old player also has 39 picks compared to 45 touchdowns.

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When New York Jets traded up to take Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the organization believed they had their quarterback of the future. Fast forward three years and Darnold’s time at MetLife Stadium seem to be over.

The Jets are currently the only winless team in the NFL and will almost certainly have the first overall pick in next year’s draft. This will give them an opportunity to draft Clemson’s standout signal-caller Trevor Lawrence in which case Darnold would have to move on.

Darnold himself is well aware of this possibility but still remains hopeful that he’ll be with the franchise for years to come.

“I love it here,” Darnold told reporters earlier this week. “I love the people here. I love living here. I’ve always said it, that I want to be a Jet for life. But again, that decision isn’t up to me.”

Coming out of USC in 2017, Sam Darnold was widely considered as one of the best QBs in his class and a can’t-miss prospect. However, he ended up struggling for the better part of his time in the NFL.

Some of that wasn’t entirely up to him, as the Jets have been a synonym for a dysfunctional franchise in recent years. Inability to field a competent offensive line and constant personnel changes probably influenced some of Darnold’s poor outings.

But Darnold also didn’t show the ability to deal with adversity or lift his teammates in a way a starting quarterback should. The 23-year-old youngster has also been unspectacular on the field, with his production being especially poor in 2020.

In the nine games he played this season, Darnold completed only 58.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,560 yards and just five touchdowns. He also had nine interceptions.

Only time will tell whether his wish to stay with the franchise forever will come to fruition.

The post Sam Darnold “Wants To Be a Jet for Life” But Says the Decision Isn’t Up to Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Despite the expected growth in his third year as a pro, New York Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold found himself struggling at the start of the 2020 NFL season. Darnold especially delivered a worrying performance in the 36-7 loss to Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, when he threw three interceptions and often looked lost on the field. 

Still, it appears that the Jets are not ready to give up on the 2017’s No.3 pick. Speaking with reporters on Monday, the team’s head coach Adam Gates expressed his support for Darnold, saying that the 23-year-old will get better with more games under his belt. 

“He just needs to keep playing,” said Gase. “He needs to keep playing and keep fixing the mistakes that are made and really emphasize the things he’s doing really well, and just keep building on those.”

Gase was asked about the possibility of benching Darnold but quickly brushed off the idea.

“That’s always a tough decision because he’s 23 years old and he’s in his third year,” he added. “Every snap he takes in a real game, they’re so valuable. They’re learning experiences. You have to go through tough situations sometimes.“

One of the reasons why Gase is hesitant to move on from Darnold might be the fact that he doesn’t have much behind him. Veteran Joe Flacco is still recovering from neck surgery while the current backup Mike White is yet to play a single snap in an official NFL game.

Jets selected Sam Darnold in 2017 with hopes of making him their franchise QB of the future. Things didn’t exactly turn out that way for the organization so far, considering that Darnold still hasn’t managed to show the capability to shoulder those expectations.

In his three years as a pro, Darnold completed just 60.0 percent of his passes, throwing for 6,451 yards and 39 touchdowns, while also having 32 interceptions.    

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Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Sam Darnold might not have a lot of things going for him in recent seasons, but that appears to have no negative effect on his confidence. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Darnold said that he still believes he can be one of the best QBs in the NFL.

“As long as I know what we’re doing, what the defense is doing, I’m confident I can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Darnold told the media.

Darnold had a great start to the 2021 campaign before fizzling out as the season progressed. His struggles prompted the Panthers first to get involved in the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes and then explore a trade for Cleveland Browns’ signal-caller Baker Mayfield. After neither option worked out, Carolina selected Matt Corral of Ole Miss in this year’s draft.

Still, Darnold is convinced that he can turn things around and finally reach the potential that got the New York Jets to take him third overall in 2018.

“Everyone, including myself, knows the situation,” he added. “But with that being said, it doesn’t change my mindset. I have a great attitude about myself going into every day.”

It is great to see Darnold being confident in his ability to overcome adversity. However, it is also safe to say that he is running out of time to make a name for himself in NFL. In his four years as a pro, he completed just 59.8% of his passes and threw 52 interceptions compared to 54 touchdowns. These and the rest of his numbers rank among the worst in the league during that period, so there is no doubt that the USC product is facing a big challenge if he wants to turn things around.

The post Panthers’ Sam Darnold: “I Can Be One of the Best Quarterbacks in the League” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Even if the Carolina Panthers didn’t want to bench starting quarterback Sam Darnold amid his poor performances in recent weeks, they will now have to do it. According to the team’s head coach Matt Rhule, Darnold is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him between four and six weeks.

Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Rhule described the injury as an “incomplete fracture” and confirmed Darnold got hurt during Sunday’s 6-24 loss against the New England Patriots.

“I think [Darnold] knows that this is in his best interest to take care of this right now,” Rhule said via Pro Football Talk. “Obviously, he’d love to play, but player’s health comes first.”

In Darnold’s absence, his backup P.J. Walker will step as a starter under center. Walker played in three games this season, with most of his snaps coming in Week 7 when Darnold was benched late in a 3-25 loss to the New York Giants. He has only completed three out of 15 passes attempted while throwing for 33 yards.

The Panthers also made additions to their QB room, signing veteran Matt Barkley off the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad. Barkley’s last action came in 2020 when he played as a relief in five games for the Bills and threw for 197 yards and a touchdown.

Sam Darnold, who joined Carolina in a trade from the New York Jets in the offseason, had an impressive start to the 2021 campaign. He led the Panthers to three straight wins while throwing for 888 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Since then, however, Darnold struggled and has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league. He had just one 300+ yards outing in six following games while managing only four passing TDs and throwing league-leading 10 picks. The Panthers have been 1-5 in that period.

The post Panthers QB Sam Darnold to Miss 4 to 6 Weeks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The New York Jets will have a new starting quarterback in the 2021 NFL season. The franchise officially confirmed on Tuesday that they traded signal-caller Sam Darnold, sending him to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for three draft picks.

The Jets will get a sixth-round selection in 2021 alongside a second-rounder and fourth-rounder in 2022, according to the announcement.

The move signals a full reset for the Jets as the franchise also hired a new coach earlier this offseason. Robert Saleh, the former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, took over the position from Adam Gase.

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Jets general manager Joe Douglas said that the decision to trade Darnold was influenced by several factors. The first was the team’s draft position, considering they have the No. 2 pick in 2021 and have the opportunity to select a new franchise QB from a strong draft class.

“I think it’s safe to say, if our pick were a little later, we wouldn’t be having this discussion right now,” said Douglas.

He also added that the organization would be “comfortable with moving forward” with Darnold in this case: “We feel really good about the draft class as a whole and the quarterback class, specifically.”

According to Douglas, another reason was the ability to get some financial relief. Darnold would cost $28.7 million over the next two years compared to the $35 million they would spend on a rookie QB.

The Jets are widely expected to go for BYU’s Zach Wilson. However, several other young quarterbacks might be in play as well, including Ohio State’s Justin Fields, Alabama’s Mac Jones, and North Dakota’s Trey Lance.

The Carolina Panthers, on the other hand, get a quarterback with a high ceiling to provide competition for 2020’s starter Teddy Bridgewater. Sam Darnold is just three years removed from being the No. 3 pick, and the organization believes he can live up to his potential if put in the right situation.

Darnold made 38 starts for the Jets, posting a 13-25 record. He completed 59.8 percent of his passes as a pro while throwing for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions.

The post Jets Trade QB Sam Darnold to Panthers for 3 Picks appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sam Darnold doesn’t seem to be a franchise quarterback in the eyes of the New York Jets. In a chat with reporters on Wednesday, Jets general manager Joe Douglas admitted that the team is willing to listen to offers for their No. 3 pick in 2018.

Douglas said that he still believes that Darnold has a future in the league but would take a call if a team is interested in him.

“As it pertains to Sam, we think Sam is a dynamic player in this league with unbelievable talent,” said Douglas. “He really has a chance to hit his outstanding potential moving forward. [But] if calls are made, I will answer them.”

Douglas being uncommitted to Darnold results from multiple options that the Jets have to address the position this offseason.

They own the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, which they can use to take another young signal-caller like BYU’s Zach Wilson or Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Another way to go is to package the pick with other assets to pursue a proven quarterback like disgruntled Houston Texans star Deshaun Watson.

There’s also a scenario where the Jets keep Sam Darnold and give him another year to prove himself, but this seems highly unlikely.

In his three years as a starter, Darnold failed to show that he can be a long-term solution for the Jets at the position. He compiled a 13-25 record while completing just 59.8 percent of his passes for 8,097 yards. The 23-year-old player also has 39 picks compared to 45 touchdowns.

The post Jets Say They Are Open to Trading QB Sam Darnold appeared first on SportzBonanza.

When New York Jets traded up to take Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the organization believed they had their quarterback of the future. Fast forward three years and Darnold’s time at MetLife Stadium seem to be over.

The Jets are currently the only winless team in the NFL and will almost certainly have the first overall pick in next year’s draft. This will give them an opportunity to draft Clemson’s standout signal-caller Trevor Lawrence in which case Darnold would have to move on.

Darnold himself is well aware of this possibility but still remains hopeful that he’ll be with the franchise for years to come.

“I love it here,” Darnold told reporters earlier this week. “I love the people here. I love living here. I’ve always said it, that I want to be a Jet for life. But again, that decision isn’t up to me.”

Coming out of USC in 2017, Sam Darnold was widely considered as one of the best QBs in his class and a can’t-miss prospect. However, he ended up struggling for the better part of his time in the NFL.

Some of that wasn’t entirely up to him, as the Jets have been a synonym for a dysfunctional franchise in recent years. Inability to field a competent offensive line and constant personnel changes probably influenced some of Darnold’s poor outings.

But Darnold also didn’t show the ability to deal with adversity or lift his teammates in a way a starting quarterback should. The 23-year-old youngster has also been unspectacular on the field, with his production being especially poor in 2020.

In the nine games he played this season, Darnold completed only 58.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,560 yards and just five touchdowns. He also had nine interceptions.

Only time will tell whether his wish to stay with the franchise forever will come to fruition.

The post Sam Darnold “Wants To Be a Jet for Life” But Says the Decision Isn’t Up to Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Despite the expected growth in his third year as a pro, New York Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold found himself struggling at the start of the 2020 NFL season. Darnold especially delivered a worrying performance in the 36-7 loss to Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, when he threw three interceptions and often looked lost on the field. 

Still, it appears that the Jets are not ready to give up on the 2017’s No.3 pick. Speaking with reporters on Monday, the team’s head coach Adam Gates expressed his support for Darnold, saying that the 23-year-old will get better with more games under his belt. 

“He just needs to keep playing,” said Gase. “He needs to keep playing and keep fixing the mistakes that are made and really emphasize the things he’s doing really well, and just keep building on those.”

Gase was asked about the possibility of benching Darnold but quickly brushed off the idea.

“That’s always a tough decision because he’s 23 years old and he’s in his third year,” he added. “Every snap he takes in a real game, they’re so valuable. They’re learning experiences. You have to go through tough situations sometimes.“

One of the reasons why Gase is hesitant to move on from Darnold might be the fact that he doesn’t have much behind him. Veteran Joe Flacco is still recovering from neck surgery while the current backup Mike White is yet to play a single snap in an official NFL game.

Jets selected Sam Darnold in 2017 with hopes of making him their franchise QB of the future. Things didn’t exactly turn out that way for the organization so far, considering that Darnold still hasn’t managed to show the capability to shoulder those expectations.

In his three years as a pro, Darnold completed just 60.0 percent of his passes, throwing for 6,451 yards and 39 touchdowns, while also having 32 interceptions.    

The post Adam Gates Supports Struggling Jets’ QB Sam Darnold appeared first on SportzBonanza.