2018 NFL Draft: Biggest steals of the first round
Sam Darnold. 3. player. 30. . Quarterback. USC Trojans
Yes, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft counts as a steal. The New York Jets not only selected the No. 1 quarterback on my personal big board with the third pick, but finally addressed the need for a true franchise field general.
One could debate how much of a steal the third overall selection in any draft in any sport truly is, but Darnold has top pick ability—and that makes him a snag.
New York was preparing to enter the 2018 regular season with Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown as its best options at quarterback. It traded up from No. 6 to No. 3 with the intention of selecting a franchise player, and with Darnold, it may have done exactly that.
Even if Darnold doesn’t pan out, the Jets have invested in the type of talent that simply isn’t often available after the first two picks of a draft.
Darnold has his issues with turnovers, but he’s a gamer in every sense of the word. He thrived when the pressure was at its highest point, was willing to stand tall in the face of pressure, and can make all of the NFL throws.
New York may have a quarterback competition in terms of name value, but Darnold could (should?) start as soon as Week 1 of the preseason—and for the next decade-plus.