Carolina Panthers trade quarterback Sam Darnold with the New York Jets

The Carolina Panthers have made a trade with the New York Jets for quarterback Sam Darnold. This is what Adam Schefter reports (ESPN). In return, the Jets will receive a six-round pick in the upcoming draft and a second and fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft.

In addition, the Panthers have apparently already drawn the option for the fifth year in Darnold’s rookie contract. This is reported by Jonathan Jones (CBS Sports). This brings Darnold a cap hit of just under 18.8 million dollars in the 2022 season and seems to be planned as the starter of the Panthers in the coming season.

Carolina has the eighth pick in the upcoming draft and is therefore likely to be out of the running for the first wave of quarterback selections. The San Francisco 49ers were already threading a trade to move into third position and presumably pick a quarterback there. The Jets, on the other hand, seemed like a sure candidate for picking a quarterback with the # 2 pick even before the trade.

Darnold was selected by the Jets in third place in the 2018 NFL Draft after only two seasons with the USC Trojans, but has not yet realized his potential. In poor New York circumstances, the 23-year-old made 59.8 percent of his passes for 8,097 yards (6.6 yards per pass) and 45 touchdowns at 39 interceptions in 38 starts.