With The First Pick
Fansided

Jets hold keys to 2021 NFL Draft in QB Sam Darnold

By Geoffrey Godfrey

Jan 3, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jets target Justin Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Jets take a quarterback with the second overall pick

It is more than possible the Jets take a quarterback with this pick, and will have their pick of options after Trevor Lawrence, with Zach Wilson from BYU, Justin Fields of Ohio State, and Trey Lance out of North Dakota State. Sam Darnold never truly developed there, though arguments could be made that he was set up for failure. The Jets could let Sam walk at the end of the 2021 season and walk into 2022 with a solid quarterback. One who not only got a chance to sit and learn and maybe start but also one who could be better than any of the options they would have in the 2022 draft.

Honestly, with how the Jets are set up any one of the remaining top-four quarterbacks could be the right pick. What would be the bigger question, is if they do decide to take a quarterback here what are the chances Sam Darnold is traded? This could ripple the draft around if a team like Denver or Carolina trades for Sam for a mid-round pick. Similar to the Josh Rosen deal a few years ago, this would take either team out of the running for a quarterback in the first round.

This would be good news for middle-teams like the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Washington Football team. Those teams might be able to stand pat and not have to trade up and end up with the remaining player of the three, as I would expect whoever remains out of the three to fall down maybe to sixth with the Eagles, or even farther. Even if they did need to move up, making a move from 15th for the Patriots to say 11th with the Giants would cost far less than moving into the top-eight.

There is also an unlikely scenario that if the Jets, take the only quarterback that some of the quarterback needy teams wanted, they just avoid the position altogether. This could send some of these guys into a free fall.

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