Former New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold was recently captured on camera in an uplifting way after the news he’d be moving to Carolina.
Don’t tell Sam Darnold to immediately go into the fetal position with fear and dismay; he simply won’t have it.
The now-former New York Jets quarterback was recently captured on video in a mini-celebratory fashion, per Jordan Palmer’s official Instagram account.
Sam Darnold appears ready for Carolina. #TakeFlight (IG: jordanpalmer)pic.twitter.com/POTHUvX5tw
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) April 6, 2021
“Pumped for the next leg of this journey” was the Darnold quote that accompanied the video, while the kid’s loved ones cheered as the new Carolina Panthers quarterback entered the room.
Darnold, 23, was traded to the Panthers in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick, 2022 second-round selection and 2022 fourth-rounder Monday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the NFL. Any doubt that Joe Douglas and the Jets would snag a quarterback No. 2 overall was immediately erased once the trade details hit the public.
Darnold threw for just 2,208 yards and nine touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 12 tough games this past season. Yet again, he couldn’t play a full 16-game schedule, this time injuring his shoulder on a Thursday night against the Denver Broncos.
The USC product played 13 games his rookie season thanks to an ankle injury, and he of course missed three games in 2019 courtesy of a surprising mono diagnosis.
It was just three drafts ago that Mike Maccagnan and the Jets made Darnold the third-overall pick. Inconsistency led the way throughout much of his Jets tenure, although he didn’t receive much help along the way.
Zach Wilson is the name that continues to surface as the Jets’ next quarterback. Whether or not Douglas is on the same page as that narrative is something fans will have to find out on the first night of the 2021 NFL draft that comes our way later this month, April 29.
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