Sam Darnold has only been with the New York Jets for around three months and signed a contract with the team less than a week ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from making a major impression already.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News has seen the Jets use many early-round draft picks on quarterbacks, and none of them have panned out. He expects things with Darnold to be a lot different and noted on Sunday that some members of the Jets organization have been “floored” with the rookie’s approach.
I understand #Jets fans' reluctance given past disappointments at QB. But don't be anchored by the past. Enjoy this process w/Sam Darnold.
People in organization are floored by how he approaches his job.
He's going to make mistakes in '18, but he's the real deal.
Embrace it pic.twitter.com/i08uJVIDAs
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) August 5, 2018
Darnold had some issues with the Jets over guaranteed money, but there was never any real risk of the two sides not coming to an agreement. Even though he was jokingly mocked by his teammates when he arrived at his first training camp practice, the contract situation is no reflection on his level of commitment.
There were no QB prospects in this past NFL Draft that were considered can’t-miss, and not everyone believes the Jets made the right choice. However, the hope is that the Jets have learned from their past mistakes with drafting quarterbacks and will give Darnold as much time as he needs to develop. If what Mehta is reporting is a good indicator, the former USC star is doing all the right things so far.
