Confident Darnold hits practice field

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Todd Bowles chuckled for a moment and then just couldn’t resist the urge to break from his normally low-key, stoic public persona.

The New York Jets coach had just been asked what his initial impressions were of first-round pick Sam Darnold at rookie minicamp Friday — and Bowles went wild. Well, sort of.

“He was great! I want him to play right now!” a smiling Bowles shouted while slamming his left hand on the lectern for emphasis.

It was stunning. And made a room filled with wide-eyed reporters laugh.

Bowles has never been one to make bold declarations, especially after just one practice. So the coach jokingly mocked the question — while providing a video and sound clip like he never has before.

Then again, Bowles and the Jets are hoping Darnold someday develops into the type of quarterback the likes of which this franchise has rarely, if ever, seen.

“He was good,” Bowles said, still smiling. “Obviously, we threw the ball around a little bit and he’s going to be getting better.”

Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft last week, surprisingly “dropping” into the Jets’ lap after being rumored as a potential top overall selection for several months. Instead, Cleveland went with Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and the Giants took Penn State running back Saquon Barkley at No. 2.

That meant the team that has been craving a franchise quarterback since the glory days of Joe Namath had its guy: Darnold, 20, a could-be savior from USC who could soon be shouldering the pressure of leading the Jets out of a seven-year playoff drought.