New York Jets stock up, stock down: Here comes Mekhi Becton

The New York Jets stock up, stock down report from training camp features a struggling Sam Darnold and flourishing Mekhi Becton.

FLORHAM PARK, NJ—Another practice in Florham Park brings … well, another injury-ladened day for Adam Gase’s squad. Jamison Crowder, Braxton Berrios, Chris Hogan and Chris Herndon all left practice early, leaving Sam Darnold with the likes of Jehu Chesson and Josh Malone as his weapons.

While the New York Jets quarterback has every excuse in the world to fail, he simply cannot be taken off the hook. He, along with his head coach, would not want that to represent the current organizational temperature.

So, let’s just say it like it is: the kid stunk Tuesday morning.

Stock Down: Sam Darnold

There’s just no way around this one. Darnold’s offense could not even move the ball an inch in 7 on 7 drills—you know, the football drill that heavily favors the offense due to its complete lack of pass-rushing.

Darnold could not find anything downfield, and this was with Crowder and company healthy (prior to all of those previously-mentioned weapons leaving the field for the day).

Alarmingly, No. 14 is slow to his outlet. Everything is seemingly a check down, yet Darnold is finding these outlets much too late.

As much as Tom Brady deserves the crown for the “king of the dink and dunk,” part of what makes him one of the all-time greats is his mastery of that game. The speed in which Brady makes those decisions and the accuracy demonstrated in the short-yardage passing game is an extremely overlooked aspect of quarterbacking in the year 2020.

Ball placement is critical. Brady’s ball allows the dink and dunk to pick up precious YAC not only by way of accuracy but also due to his quick decision-making. Darnold, on the other hand, is developing a habit of waiting too long to decide on the outlet.

The offense needs its quarterback now more than ever.

Stock Up: Mekhi Becton