Darn’ it all

USC QB may wreck Jets’ ‘plan’

If the Jets are going to suck, they shouldn’t do so for Sam.

USC quarterback Sam Darnold has been widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft, but NFL.com reported Wednesday that “several sources close to” the talented redshirt sophomore have said “they wouldn’t be surprised if Darnold plays two more seasons at USC.” That would remove the top prize of the Jets’ perceived tank job for the upcoming season.

Though the 2018 draft appears it could be loaded with high-end quarterbacks — possibly including UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen and Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph — Darnold’s absence would be a crushing blow to whichever team holds the top pick.

Darnold, 20, has started just nine games in college, but after being named the Trojans’ starter in the fourth game of his redshirt freshman season, he led a team that began 1-3 to nine straight wins to end the season. The 6-foot-4, 225pound quarterback threw for 3,086 yards, 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season, while completing more than 67 percent of his passes. The Heisman Trophy favorite demonstrated impressive arm strength, accuracy and athleticism, with teammates also touting the 20year-old’s leadership. In the Rose Bowl, he threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-49 win over Penn State.

The Jets infamously were burned by a similar sce- nario two decades ago.

In 1997, the Jets held the No. 1 pick in the draft — one year after taking Keyshawn Johnson with the top pick — and were in line to take Peyton Manning, who was expected to leave Tennessee following his junior season. Instead, the future Hall of Famer returned to Knoxville for his senior year, and was selected by the Colts with the top pick in 1998.

The Jets ended up trading down from the top pick in 1997, and still are searching for a franchise quarterback nearly five decades after Joe Namath led the team to its only championship.

Darnold still has many months to make a decision, but the Jets may need to have another prize in mind.

Getty Images SAM OLD STORY: USC quarterback Sam Darnold (eluding UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley last year), may not declare for the NFL draft after the upcoming season, which would be bad news for any team — including the Jets — targeting him as its QB savior.