New York Jets set to start rookie Sam Darnold week one
The New York Jets will be the first team set to start a rookie quarterback this year
After trading Teddy Bridgewater to the New Orleans Saints for a third round pick, the New York Jets will reportedly start rookie quarterback Sam Darnold week one of the regular season.
New York will have veteran Josh McCown backup Darnold week one against the Detroit Lions and beyond.
Darnold has been very impressive this offseason after coming into camp late thanks to contract negotiations. He’s moved well in the pocket, run through his progressions, and made the big plays when called upon.
After starting the last preseason game for New York, fans started to get the feeling that the Jets were going all-in with the third-overall pick.
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Of course, the Jets have already gone all-in with Darnold after moving up three spots in the NFL Draft to acquire him. New York traded two second-round picks in 2018 and a second-round pick from 2019 to move into the third-overall slot behind the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, all while not knowing which quarterback would fall to them.
The former USC quarterback felt like one of the more sure things, in my opinion, during the NFL Draft along with fellow California quarterback Josh Rosen. Everything with Darnold looked natural and he physically looks the part of a franchise quarterback.
Darnold might not be the only of five first round quarterbacks to play week one of the regular season. Despite the apparent plan to sit him early, the Bills might be forced to start Josh Allen with A.J. McCarron battling an injury.
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Baker Mayfield will sit behind Tyrod Taylor in Cleveland, and Rosen is expected to wait behind Sam Bradford until the inevitable injury comes along. Lamar Jackson could see time in specially designed packages, but Joe Flacco is the starting quarterback.