Darnold a holdout as Jets camp opens

The No. 3overall draft pick sat out of New York Jets camp for the second straight day in a contract impasse that has already lasted longer than most expected.

FLORHAMPARK, N.J. » There was no sign of Sam Darnold as the New York Jets opened training camp.

The No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft officially became a contract holdout when the team began its first practice of the summer Friday without its prized rookie quarterback.

Darnold joins Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith, the No. 8 choice, as the only unsigned picks from the entire draft.

Under the NFL’s labor agreement, contract holdouts are uncommon because deals are slotted based on draft position. Darnold will receive a fouryear, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus.

The dispute seems to hang on contract language. If a player is cut during his rookie contract, offset language provides the team with financial protection. Not having offset language allows a player to receive his salary from the team that cut him, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.

Offset language is common in rookie deals. Both Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland, and Josh Allen, seventh overall by Buffalo — the quarterbacks drafted before and after Darnold — have offsets in their contracts. In fact, Allen and Darnold share the same agent in Jimmy Sexton.

The 21-year- old Darnold is expected to compete for the Jets’ starting job with 39-year-old Josh McCown, the incumbent who is coming off the best season of his career, and Teddy Bridgewater, working his way back froma severe knee injury nearly two years ago.

MARK LENNIHAN - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, New York Jets quarterbacks Sam Darnold (14), Josh McCown (15) and Teddy Bridgewater (5) practice at the NFL football team’s training camp in Florham Park, N.J. Assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi is at left.