New York Jets

The perception of New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold's playing abilities among media members and fans seems to be "significantly higher" than it is from league scouts, coaches and executives, per a pair of tweets from Matt Lombardo of FanSided on Tuesday.

One unnamed offensive coach even went so far as to say, "He stinks, bro," regarding his feelings on Darnold.

Lombardo also added that a current unnamed general manager would list Darnold as the fourth-best quarterback in this year's draft class.

The Jets have a big decision to make at quarterback under a new regime led by first-year head coach Robert Saleh. They can either stick with Darnold, select a quarterback in the draft or find a veteran via trade or free agency.

On one hand, Darnold simply has not played well, completing 59.8 percent of his passes for 45 touchdowns, 39 interceptions and just 6.6 yards per pass attempt in 38 career games.

He ranked 35th in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric (defense-adjusted value over average) among 36 quarterbacks who threw at least 200 passes last year.

Per Pro Football Reference, he had the lowest quarterback rating in the league among 35 qualified quarterbacks and the third-lowest QBR.

Per Pro Football Focus, Darnold is also the NFL's second-lowest-graded quarterback during his career (2018-2020).

On the other hand, Darnold hasn't been given much of a chance to succeed. New York has had three play-callers in Kacy Rodgers, Dowell Loggains and ex-Jets head coach Adam Gase in three years. Darnold's first year was former head coach Todd Bowles' last season with Gang Green before the quarterback had to learn a new system under Gase in 2019.

On the field, Darnold has thrown to a rotating group of wide receivers and tight ends for three years. Tight end Chris Herndon is the only Jet to have caught a pass from Darnold in each of his three seasons, and that includes 2019, when he had just one reception in one game played all year.

Darnold also missed three games in 2018 (foot injury), three more in 2019 (mononucleosis) and two in 2020 (shoulder injury).

It's possible Darnold simply needs a change in scenery to hit the ceiling expected of him when the Jets selected the former USC star third overall in the 2018 draft.

Likewise, it might behoove the Jets to start fresh in a new regime. The Jets would certainly have options with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

If Clemson's Trevor Lawrence goes No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars as expected, New York should still have multiple options, including BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance.

We'll soon find out which direction the Jets head. For now, New York is in the throes of free agency, and the draft is slated to start April 29.

Though free agency has yet to officially begin, the quarterback market is already humming along.

Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz were traded earlier in the offseason. Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick have both come off the market since the legal tampering period began on Monday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Winston has agreed to return to the New Orleans Saints on a one-year, $12 million deal. Fitzpatrick will get a one-year deal worth $10 million from the Washington Football Team, also per Schefter.

With Cam Newton returning to the New England Patriots, the pool of available quarterbacks is beginning to turn shallow. This could lead some teams to trade for a signal-caller. Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson have been the two biggest names circulating the rumor mill.

However, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold could also be in the trade mix. In fact, there's a good chance he will be. The Jets own the No. 2 pick in the draft and could take either Clemson's Trevor Lawrence or BYU's Zach Wilson with the selection—whichever quarterback doesn't go No. 1.

While the idea of Darnold as an enticing trade chip might seem laughable to some—he certainly isn't as accomplished as Wilson or Watson—teams are expected to show interest. According to TheMMQB's Albert Breer, a quarter of the league could, in fact, be interested:

"Status quo on the Sam Darnold front, with Darnold likely to be the next QB domino to fall. So what I told you last week stands: Eight teams have been in contact with the Jets about Darnold, and the team would like to see Wilson and Fields throw live at theit pro days before making a final call, but has relayed some flexibility on that to other teams."

Breer didn't go into detail about who those teams might be, but the San Francisco 49ers may not be one of them.

"The response I've received on the Sam Darnold situation is, 'Do not expect the 49ers to be in it,'" NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said on the Murph and Mac Podcast. "Maybe it could change. I guess, theoretically, anything is possible."

However, one particular San Francisco rival could be in a different spot.

"Keep an eye on Seattle for Darnold," a source told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

Per Leonard, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has a high opinion of the 23-year-old and could make a trade if Seattle winds up moving Wilson. Now, Carroll would probably rather have the future Hall of Famer over Darnold, but the Seahawks have at least been listening to offers for Wilson.

"I know there's been calls made on both sides," ESPN's Dianna Russini said on The Pat McAfee Show. "Going to Seattle, and from Seattle to other teams."

The Chicago Bears are eager to make a deal for Wilson, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. If they're unable to make that trade work, they could also turn their attention to Darnold.

The Bears need to find an answer at quarterback one way or another, and they may be more interested in rolling the dice on the USC product than bringing back Mitchell Trubisky or giving Nick Foles another opportunity.

A lot will hinge on whether Wilson and/or Watson get moved and if one of the aforementioned eight interested teams is willing to make a trade for Darnold before that happens.

Wilson and Watson are likely top targets for most quarterback-needy teams, though Darnold would likely be a far cheaper one in terms of trade cost—especially if the Jets become enamored with their draft options.

The New York Jets agreed to a deal with wide receiver Corey Davis on Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Davis is coming off a career year with the Tennessee Titans and represents an upgrade for the Jets' league-worst offense. He posted 984 yards and five touchdowns on 65 receptions, all career highs, with 92 targets. His 70.7 catch percentage was also a career high, and he averaged 10.7 yards per target.

His presence on the Jets will be an instant boost to a group that looked to Jamison Crowder's 699 yards and six touchdowns to lead all receivers and rushers amid a 2-14 season. But his implications on the fantasy side warrant a closer look.

The Jets may have looked to Crowder to lead the offense in 2020, but he's also on the free-agent market in 2021. The addition of Davis to the roster seemingly locks up the team's WR1 spot.

Sam Darnold is still the Jets' quarterback, and his stats were certainly nothing to write home about last season. He picked up 2,208 yards on 59.6 percent passing, though he only averaged 6.1 yards per attempt. If he remains the Jets' signal-caller through 2021, he might bring down the ceiling for a player like Davis, who is on the verge of hitting his first 1,000-yard season.

But the Jets have options. In free agency, a number of talented quarterbacks are on the market, including Mitchell Trubisky, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andy Dalton. In the draft, their No. 2 pick will be enough to net them their choice of BYU's Zach Wilson, Ohio State's Justin Fields and Alabama's Mac Jones—assuming Trevor Lawrence goes No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Davis is a low-end WR2 on his own, based on the stats he put up while sharing receiving duties with A.J. Brown in a Ryan Tannehill-run offense. But before a firm decision can be made on where exactly he can fit into a fantasy lineup this fall, the Jets will have to figure out what they will be doing at quarterback.

Having the right passer under center in 2021 could help elevate Davis' fantasy standing, as well as the Jets' record.

Veteran defensive end Carl Lawson has agreed to a deal with the New York Jets, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The three-year, $45 million pact reportedly includes $30 million in guarantees.

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reported shortly before news of the contract there was a "strong sense among other teams" that Lawson would wind up back with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jets were going strong after Carl Lawson and Trey Hendrickson all day -- two defensive ends they think will be great fits in Robert Saleh's defense. They land Lawson, whom the Bengals were trying to lure back. Hendrickson remains unsigned, for now.

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) March 16, 2021

The 2020 season was the 25-year-old's most productive in the NFL, thanks in part to his making 11 starts (eight more than he had through his first three years). He finished with 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

From the moment the Bengals selected Lawson in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, he has been an effective pass-rusher. His 8.5 sacks as a rookie were second on the team behind Geno Atkins. A torn ACL ended his second season after seven games, but he returned to register 10.5 sacks between 2019 and 2020.

Pro Football Focus' Ben Linsey wrote in January that the Auburn product would likely be undervalued heading into this offseason:

"There is an argument to be made that Lawson is the best pure pass rusher to hit free agency this offseason. Since entering the league in 2017, his pass-rush grade on true pass-rush sets ranks in the 96th percentile among all edge defenders—firmly in elite territory. Injuries and inconsistent play have limited his opportunities to begin his career, but he finished the 2020 season with a career-high 723 defensive snaps and 84.9 pass-rushing grade. The arrow is pointing up."

Lawson's usage is somewhat telling. He has made 51 appearances, and only on 28 occasions did he see the field for at least 50 percent of the Bengals' defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.

He isn't a great run defender and provides little in pass coverage. He has not only failed to intercept a pass but also hasn't recorded an official pass defended. Aside from pressuring the quarterback, he won't bring much else to New York's defense based on his Bengals run.

What Lawson does well, though, he does very well. He provides immediate help off the edge for the Jets and should be a steady contributor when attempting to collapse the pocket. If he grows into a more balanced defender, then it will be an added bonus.

It's unclear who will be under center for the New York Jets in 2021, but that didn't stop the team from addressing the passing game on the first day of the negotiating window in free agency.  

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Corey Davis agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract that includes $27 million guaranteed. Here's what New York's offense could look like with him on board.

• QB: Sam Darnold
• RB: Frank Gore
• WR: Jamison Crowder
• WR: Corey Davis
• WR: Breshad Perriman
• TE: Chris Herndon
• LT: Mekhi Becton
• LG: Alex Lewis
• C: Connor McGovern
• RG: Greg Van Roten
• RT: George Fant

In other offseason business, the Jets already placed the franchise tag on safety Marcus Maye and agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with Jarrad Davis, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Early trend for #Jets (other than first two deals are with guys named Davis): WR Corey Davis + LB Jarrad Davis both 2017 first-round picks whose fifth-year options weren't exercised.

Jets betting on upside rather than past performance. Risky w/ Corey Davis, considering $27M GTD

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) March 16, 2021

Spotrac projected New York to have $69.9 million to spend, which doesn't take into account the team's two newest additions. General manager Joe Douglas probably isn't done in free agency.

The Jets absolutely needed to upgrade at wideout after Jamison Crowder (59 receptions, 699 yards, six touchdowns) and Breshad Perriman (30 receptions, 505 yards, three touchdowns) finished as their top two receivers.

Davis, a first-round pick in 2017, was far too inconsistent early in his career but enjoyed a productive 2020. He caught 65 passes for 984 yards and five scores for the Tennessee Titans.

This shouldn't be the full extent to which the Jets address the problem because Davis hasn't proved himself as a true No. 1 wideout over multiple seasons. However, the 26-year-old undoubtedly helps and allows Douglas to have plenty of money left over to identify more free-agent additions.

Depending on what happens with Sam Darnold, the Jets might have another high draft pick with which to further strengthen the offense.

The New York Daily News' Pat Leonard spoke to a source who said the Seattle Seahawks could make a move for Darnold as they continue to deal with the fallout of their fissure with star quarterback Russell Wilson.

The New York Jets reportedly upgraded their passing attack when they agreed to a deal with free-agent wide receiver Corey Davis on Monday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the two sides agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal with $27 million guaranteed.

As the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Davis entered the league with high expectations but failed to get into much of a rhythm in his first three years with the Tennessee Titans.

From 2017 to 2019, the wideout totaled 1,867 receiving yards with six touchdowns, averaging 44.5 yards per game across 42 appearances.

He had a much bigger impact in 2020, finishing with 65 catches for a career-high 984 yards with five touchdowns, averaging 70.3 yards per game. After topping 100 yards in a game just twice in his first three years, he reached the milestone five times last year.

The 26-year-old also showed the ability to make game-changing plays for the Titans:

Tannehill dimes Corey Davis for a 75-yard TD 😳

(via @Titans)pic.twitter.com/avYr4cKkYQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 20, 2020

While Derrick Henry was often a focal point offensively, Davis was a key part of the team finishing last season tied for the second-most yards from scrimmage in the NFL.

He will now try to keep his production going in 2021 and beyond with New York while providing another weapon for Sam Darnold or whoever is under center.

There are still concerns with Davis, notably the inconsistency showed throughout his career. Even in 2020, he had three games with zero catches, including the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

His new team will hope there are more positives than negatives after agreeing to the latest deal.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley has been the subject of trade calls received by the New York Jets, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Mosley opted out of the 2020 season and has $22 million guaranteed on his contract, but the four-time Pro Bowler counts for just a $6 million hit against the cap in the upcoming season, Pelissero reported. 

Mosley signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Jets in 2019, but he has only played two games with them. In his first year on the team, he suffered a groin injury. 

His decision to opt out of the season was motivated by concerns for his family amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"I've got to look out for my family, too, so sometimes you got to make that small sacrifice that some people might not understand right now," he said in August, per Mark Inabinett of AL.com. "But when you come out on top, everybody's going to be on your side cheering for you."

He said he planned to use his time away "to make sure I'm mentally and physically the best person I can be so I can be that leader I know I can be." 

In considering his ceiling, there's plenty to look at from his first five years in the league. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him with the No. 17 pick out of Alabama in 2014, and he earned his first Pro Bowl selection as a rookie after starting all 16 games. He earned three more of those selections from 2016-18. 

But he hasn't played since September 2019, so it could be a high-risk, high-reward situation for any team willing to take the leap. Ditching the major contract would set the Jets up for salary-cap clearance down the line, since they would save more than $50 million over the next few years, per Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports. 

Through 79 games, the 28-year-old has 588 tackles (43 for loss), 32 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks and 10 interceptions. 

The New York Jets are reportedly going to attempt to repair their offensive line. 

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the team has interest in potentially signing free-agent center Corey Linsley and free-agent guard Joe Thuney this offseason. 

The Jets' primary question this offseason hovers around the quarterback position. Will the team stick with Sam Darnold for another season or use the No. 2 overall draft pick to add a promising young QB? 

Regardless of the answer, improving the offensive line is vital. The Jets gave up 43 sacks last season (ninth-most in the NFL) and rushed for just 105.2 yards per contest (23rd). 

Coming into the offseason, Thuney was ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 13 available free agent, which noted that he "ranks in the 83rd percentile in overall pass-blocking grade since entering the league, though that drops to the 70th percentile when isolated to true pass sets, showing that there has been some protection for him in the New England scheme."

He's yet to miss a game in his five-year career and would seriously improve the interior of the Jets offensive line. 

Ditto for Linsley, PFF's No. 27 overall free agent. PFF noted that Linsley was "outstanding" in pass protection in 2020, "allowing just four pressures on 437 pass-blocking attempts in 2020. He is also a strong run-blocker, ranking in the 84th percentile in the percentage of positively graded blocks and the 85th percentile when it comes to avoiding negatives."

Either player would be a strong upgrade for the Jets. Adding both would really solidify the offensive line, albeit at a high cost. But while the focus remains on the future of the quarterback position in New York, reinforcing the offensive line is almost as important. 

NFL free agency begins Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., but one of the names on the lips of league insiders is still under contract to the team that drafted him.

At least for now.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has been the subject of trade discussions since the end of the 2020 season, especially considering the team's position in the upcoming draft. The Jets amassed a miserable 2-14 record and will select second in April's NFL draft.

Might they select a quarterback? Possibly. Might there be a trade for Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has expressed interest in joining the team? Sure, if the pieces are there.

Perhaps the team holds on to Darnold and uses the draft (five selections in the first 86 picks) to build around him.

There is certainly chatter to suggest the No. 3 pick in 2018 out of USC may be on the move.

      

Teams Are Definitely Interested

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported there are three teams keeping a close eye on the Darnold situation: Chicago, San Francisco and Washington.

"Two of the three, Chicago and Washington, were playoff teams in 2020, aren't in striking distance to draft one of the top guys and may not think developing a rookie, given where they're at, is the best play," he said.

Adam Schefter of ESPN backed that report up, naming those three teams, as well as the Carolina Panthers, as potential suitors for Darnold.

On the surface, it is not difficult to see why those teams would be in-play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UowSm5RFgzs

Washington released both Dwayne Haskins and Alex Smith in short order, leaving Taylor Heinicke as its starter. While Heinicke was impressive in his Wild Card Round loss to Tampa Bay, the proverbial jury is still out as to whether he can maintain that level of play over the course of a full season.

Inconsistent play in Chicago from Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles has left the Bears searching for that elusive championship-caliber quarterback. Ditto for Teddy Bridgewater in Carolina, even as head coach Matt Ruhle says all the right things about the former Viking and Saint retaining his starting job.

The third, San Francisco, may not be as in-play as Breer and Schefter think.

Appearing on The Murph and Mac Podcast, NFL insider Ian Rapoport ruled the 2019 NFC champions out of the equation.

"The response I've received on the Sam Darnold situation is, 'Do not expect the 49ers to be in it,'" Rapoport said. "Maybe it could change. I guess, theoretically, anything is possible. I never rule anything out in this ridiculous, stupid world. I do not expect the 49ers, as of my knowledge right now, to be in it."

   

Darnold Is Still a Valued Prospect

Despite performing below league-average in most statistical categories, there is still belief among executives that Darnold is a starting quarterback.

Dianna Russini of ESPN reported as much via her Twitter account.

My favorite topic to ask GMs and Head Coaches around the league: the #Jets QB situation.
I always want to know how they see if from their positions. The answers are always similar.
Belief in Sam Darnold's ability is real. Most think he can be really good with the right cast.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 8, 2021

ESPN's NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. supports the sentiment, at least in comparison to quarterback Zac Wilson, who would likely be the best QB available at the No. 2 position come April.

Sure, Darnold throws more interceptions than he should, but he was also the eighth-most sacked quarterback in the league in 2020. He has been under pressure consistently throughout his career, suffering no less than 30 sacks in any of his three seasons in New York.

Some of that can be attributed to a young quarterback holding on to the ball and trying to make things happen, but some of the blame must be shouldered by the offensive line and a scheme by former head coach Adam Gase that never really took advantage of Darnold's strengths.

If Darnold does move on from the Jets and end up in a more favorable situation elsewhere, it will be interesting to see if a change in scenery, coaching and offense benefits him or if the issues that were present in New York were more his fault than those general managers and head coaches, insistent on the QB's talent, thought.

There will reportedly be nothing in the way for New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas if he wants to spend this offseason. 

According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, "there is absolutely no financial restriction" on the general manager as he looks to rebuild the Jets into a contender in the AFC East. Hughes noted sources around the league think New York will "make waves" as it goes after top-notch free agents.

While that may seem like Douglas will just open the checkbook, Hughes pointed out the general manager "will not get sucked into playing ball with teams throwing around silly money for sake of throwing around money."

Hughes also cited a source who said, "Joe doesn't do desperate."

This is a key offseason for Douglas, who was hired prior to the 2019 campaign. The Jets went 7-9 in his first season as the GM and an ugly 2-14 during the 2020 season as one of the worst teams in the league.

As a result, the team has the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL draft and could address a number of positions, including quarterback.

Whether that means drafting Justin Fields or Zach Wilson—or perhaps making a trade or signing a free agent—remains to be seen, but Sam Darnold has yet to live up to expectations since the Jets picked him with the No. 3 pick of the 2018 draft.

New York hasn't made the playoffs since the 2010 season, but it is a new era with head coach Robert Saleh on the sideline and Douglas having more freedom to spend money to address needs. How he does so could determine the Jets' fate in an AFC East that isn't exactly loaded with top-notch contenders at this stage.