Dallas, TX-What a start to the NFL Draft, the Browns selected Baker Mayfield, which was a surprised after the Browns traded to get Tyrod Taylor, but the second QB that was picked by the New York Jets was Sam Darnold. Mayfield is the first Heisman recipient taken No. 1 overall in the following draft since Cam Newton went to Carolina in 2010. In no other draft this century have four QBs been taken in the top 10 picks. Fair or not, he’s perceived as the Jets’ savior. I’m comfortable in my own skin. “I want to go somewhere I think I’ll do well, and if that team feels I will do well, pick me”.
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Mayfield, who had a stellar college career at Oklahoma but also made headlines with his behavior on and off the field, will be tasked with turning around a Browns team that went 0-16 last season.
Now comes the hard part: Darnold proving he was worth the freight Maccagnan sent to Indianapolis, proving he’s the quarterback the long-suffering fan base has been waiting for all these years.
Darnold is the Jets’ highest-drafted quarterback since Joe Namath, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1965 AFL draft.
Like a gift from the gods who so often have spat on the Jets over the years, the USC quarterback fell right into their lap. “That will play itself out over the spring”.
Asked by NFLN’s Deion Sanders what he will bring to the Jets, Darnold said, “A lot of wins”. Once teams get past the expected quarterback rush early, defense is going to become the focus. “And obviously his accuracy – we really like that about him”. NY has McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Hackenberg on the roster. Sanchez was last under contract with the Chicago Bears for the 2016 season and is now a free agent.
Sam Darnold made his way up the short flight of stairs inside AT&T Stadium and adjusted his suit.
“This kid makes our quarterback better”, New York GM Dave Gettleman said. Towards Kansas in November, TV cameras caught him grabbing his crotch and swearing on the Jayhawks sideline in an obvious response to the Kansas captains refusing to shake his hand in the course of the coin toss.
Darnold turns 21 on June 5.
“The fumble stuff, there are things we can work on with that, ” Maccagnan said. “We feel he has a bright future”. It’s obvious Darnold has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback in the National Football League, but many of those tools are still a work in progress. Truth be told, Darnold wowed pro scouts after the 2016 USC college season. He tied for the FBS lead with 22 turnovers.
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The majority of deals that go down will only include picks, but there is the potential for teams looking to clear cap space to find trade partners seeking established players to fill a certain need on their roster. He set the OU career record for completion percentage (.698), passing efficiency rating (189.4), TDs responsible for (138) and pass attempt streak with no interceptions (200), and ranks second in FBS history in passing efficiency rating (175.4), third in yards per attempt, fourth in TD passes (131) and fifth in total offense (15,690 yards).
