Jets' Former Top Pick Sam Darnold Owns Rare Distinction

SI writer Daniel Chavkin highlighted the most-recent first-round selections who were dealt during their rookie contracts

The New York Jets once marketed Sam Darnold as a franchise player, but times have changed drastically since the 2018 National Football League Draft.

Zach Wilson was still months away from kicking off his collegiate career at Brigham Young back then.

Five years later, Darnold is still hanging around in the NFL, but the former USC Trojan is on his third different team.

Following the Atlanta Falcons’ recent trade for cornerback Jeff Okudah, Sports Illustrated’s Daniel Chavkin examined the rarity of teams trading away top-five overall draft picks during the players’ rookie contract years.

Okudah, an Ohio State product, went to the Detroit Lions at No. 3 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. Three seasons later, he heads to a different city while picking up a dubious distinction that also belongs to Darnold.

Including Okudah, Darnold is one of the five “most recent top-five draft picks to be traded before they hit free agency or received a second contract.”

Quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive end Bradley Chubb and cornerback Jalen Ramsey complete the quintet.

Searching for a franchise quarterback (one thing that hasn’t changed over the past five years), the Jets made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft that featured five first-round quarterbacks.

Mayfield went first overall to the Cleveland Browns in 2018. The Buffalo Bills moved up to No. 7 for Wyoming’s Josh Allen. UCLA’s Josh Rosen landed with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10 and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson went to the Baltimore Ravens’ as the final selection in Round 1.

The former USC Trojan was billed as the most pro-ready quarterback of the bunch with longtime WFAN radio voice Mike Francesa leading the band.

Darnold, who battled a variety of ailments from mono to a separated shoulder to seeing “ghosts,” never played a full season in three years with Gang Green.

QB Sam Darnold on the Jets' sideline / Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The 6-foot-3 signal caller showed flashes during his rookie season, throwing for 2,865 yards and 17 touchdowns to 15 interceptions over 13 starts. Darnold’s 2019 campaign kept the hope alive as the California kid exceeded the 3,000-yard passing mark and accounted for a 7-6 record over a 13-game sample.

Instead of taking a third-year leap like Allen did with Buffalo, Darnold regressed in 2020 to the tune of 6.1 yards per pass attempt and a 9:11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Jets posted a 2-10 record in his starts.

Gang Green moved on from Darnold during the 2021 offseason and drafted BYU’s Zach Wilson three weeks later.

“I want to publicly acknowledge the commitment, dedication, and professionalism Sam displayed while with the Jets. He is a tough-minded, talented football player whose NFL story has not been written yet,” said Jets’ GM Joe Douglas in a statement issued by the organization in the wake of the Darnold trade to Carolina. “While all these things are true, this move is in the short- and long-term best interests for both this team and him. We thank Sam for all of his work on behalf of this organization and wish him well as he continues his career.”

Here is Chavkin’s comment on Darnold from “5 Top-Five NFL Draft Picks Who Were Traded Before Their Rookie Contracts Expired”:

Sam Darnold
"Darnold was the second QB taken and No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Jets, but the USC product could not overcome the ghosts of New York after two promising seasons. The Jets traded Darnold to Carolina after his third season, but the quarterback remained inconsistent on the field. Now in San Francisco, Darnold will play for his fifth head coach and third franchise in his sixth season." 

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