Jets taking calls from suitors for Darnold

It’s beginning to feel like a question of when, not if, the Jets will trade Sam Darnold.

Darnold was a trade candidate even before new head coach Robert Saleh said on Jan. 21 that it would be “premature” to call Darnold the Jets’ starting QB for 2021.

Now the Jets are receiving calls from teams expressing interest in Darnold, according to ESPN. While the Jets haven’t made a decision on Darnold yet, they aren’t turning the calls away.

In particular, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is “very high” on Darnold, per CBS. The Washington Football Team also would be interested if Darnold is available, per NFL Network.

The Jets are the third team in the past week reportedly receiving increased interest in their own quarterback, following the Raiders with Derek Carr (Las Vegas JournalReview)

and the Eagles with Carson Wentz (ESPN, NFL Network).

Floating a quarterback as an available commodity often helps teams create a market and bidding wars for their player, as evidenced by the Wentz drama in Philly.

In a case like Wentz’s — with the player and his agents also angling for a trade — the noise is guaranteed to only get louder until a deal goes down.

The Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears reportedly are the leading contenders to land Wentz, but the Eagles have been asking for two first-round picks, which has led to “some dial tones,” per the Boston Sports Journal.

The expectation around the league is that Wentz will be moved imminently for a lower price.

The Jets are wise to take calls on Darnold even before Wentz is dealt, though, because he is arguably a more attractive commodity. The Jets also have a lot of options at QB, too, holding the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft with a possible shot at bidding for Houston’s Deshaun Watson, as well.

Darnold, 23, carries a manageable $9.7 million cap hit in 2021 with a fifthyear option to be picked up for 2022. His 2020 season obviously was beyond disappointing (nine TDs, 11 INTs, 59.6 completion %), but at such a young age, it’s possible a better coaching staff and supporting cast could help him turn it around.

Wentz, 28, at his best has played at a much higher level than Darnold ever has. But Wentz’s 2020 season was catastrophically bad (16 TDs, 15 INTs, 57.4 completion %). He carries a $34.6 million cap hit in 2021, in year one of a fouryear extension.

He’s had multiple major injuries. And frankly, Wentz has never been popular among Eagles players, regardless of what some have said publicly.

Wentz’s ties to Colts head coach Frank Reich and Bears QB coach John DeFilippo make sense for possible fits, but it’s buyer beware. And it’s more likely only Chicago would be desperate enough — with GM Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy on hot seats — to surrender significant assets for such a declining player with baggage.

Darnold, by contrast, represents potential untapped upside with less risk attached. The 49ers, Washington, Denver Broncos and Colts are four potential suitors who would make sense as a fit.

Much has been made of how Darnold may excel in Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s system coming from San Fran. But imagine what the mobile Darnold could do running Shanahan’s Niners offense on the west coast in Darnold’s home state?

In Washington, Ron Rivera led a team with a young core to the playoffs and might be able to stabilize his quarterback situation with a young and rising QB in Darnold.