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2018 NFL Draft: Sam Darnold compared to Carson Palmer

By Maxwell Ogden

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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2018 NFL Draft prospect Sam Darnold was recently compared to longtime quarterback Carson Palmer. The source of the comparison has perspective.

Regardless of where you rank the quarterbacks on your personal big board, most agree that the field generals will dominate the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Franchises are in constant pursuit of a star-caliber quarterback, and multiple prospects have flashed that potential.

While a number of quarterbacks are generating hype, few are surfacing in the discussion for the No. 1 overall draft pick as often as Sam Darnold.

Darnold is a big-body quarterback with the poise under pressure that every franchise is searching for. He led USC to a 21-4 record during the 25 games that he started, including an unforgettable victory in the 2017 Rose Bowl.

In a recent appearance on “The Bull & Fox Show” on 92.3 The Fan, former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer compared Darnold to his brother: All-Pro quarterback Carson Palmer (h/t 247 Sports).

"“His personality is very similar to Carson. The way I would summarize that is he is a guy that doesn’t want to draw attention to himself, doesn’t genuinely believe that everybody should care about what he has to say about everything and is really, really loyal – to his friends and his family. I’m not just sitting here throwing compliments out. He’s actually incredibly loyal to a select group of people. That’s eerily similar to my brother. How that manifests in terms of being a franchise guy, because Sam is absolutely a franchise quarterback.”"

That’s high praise from a player who knows as much about what made Carson Palmer a successful NFL quarterback as anyone possibly could.

Palmer retired after the 2017 regular season, finishing his 14-year career with 46,247 passing yards and 294 touchdowns—both of which rank No. 12 in NFL history. He led two different franchises to the playoffs, reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2015.

Palmer was also a three-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro honoree, and the 2005 NFL passing touchdowns leader with 32 scores—a mark he later eclipsed with 35 in 2015.

That will be a tough act to follow, but if Darnold is selected in the top five, Palmer may become the barometer for his success.

Darnold saved the Trojans’ season in 2016 and pieced together a better-than-advertised sophomore campaign in 2017. He struggled with a high interception tally, but he continued to be one of the most clutch players in the country.

The hope in NFL circles is that Darnold can translate his propensity for stellar play in big moments to the next level.

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If Sam Darnold justifies the Carson Palmer comparison, many organizations would view him as a worthy investment at the 2018 NFL Draft.

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