The Jets fell to 0-7 on Sunday with an 18-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. With another loss, the Jets continue to sink deeper in the quicksand that’s been their season.
Meanwhile, there’s a bad moon rising for Sam Darnold. The Jets are spiraling towards another major shake-up. It’s possible the team’s future will not include their third-year quarterback.
General manager Joe Douglas will have a full plate on his desk this offseason. There are changes expected with the coaching staff, along with a high draft pick.
That draft pick has a strong possibility of being No. 1 overall. For the Jets, that means Clemson star quarterback Trevor Lawrence is in play.
And for Darnold, it could mean a change of address in 2021.
Let’s answer a couple of questions:
Why do the Jets find themselves in prime position to secure the top pick in the draft?
An 0-7 record, the only winless record in the league, has the Jets lined up to finish with the league’s worst record.
The Jets have nine games remaining on their schedule, none of which they’re going to be favorites to win.
If the Jets land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, do they have to trade Sam Darnold?
No, but they most likely will.
Darnold’s time with the Jets has been filled with inconsistency. His performance against Buffalo on Sunday didn’t help him.
He has the potential to be the “Franchise” quarterback he was drafted to be. The Jets, however, have not surrounded him with a strong supporting cast.
While judging Darnold’s overall performance with the Jets is difficult, moving him after the season to make room for Lawrence is logical.
The Jets bringing in a new head coach isn’t a matter of if, it’s when. All signs point to it.
Douglas didn’t draft Darnold; therefore, it’s reasonable to conclude he’ll want to hand-pick a new quarterback for his new head coach.
The No. 1 Overall Pick and what it brings
What it brings is options.
Option 1: Douglas, as general manager, can use the pick to draft Lawrence.
This is the obvious option. Lawrence is the best college quarterback in the nation, the best player on the draft board, and is considered by many analysts as a generational talent.
Option 2: Trading the No. 1 Overall Pick
This is the more complicated option if the Jets find themselves first on the clock for draft night.
For this option to have life, Darnold must raise his level of play for the remainder of this season. It must be enough to convince Douglas he already has his franchise quarterback. That’s asking a lot of Darnold to execute with the current roster.
If he can pull this off, the Jets can begin shopping the No. 1 draft pick to interested teams for additional assets and/or draft capital.
With the way this season is going for the Jets, the writing on the wall is becoming clearer.
There’s a bad moon rising for Sam Darnold.
Image: AP
