For the New York Jets, the 2021 NFL Draft is really quite simple. Do they stick with quarterback Sam Darnold and build around him, or do they pull the plug on Darnold and draft a quarterback, with the most likely candidate being Ohio State’s Justin Fields?
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. explained what the Jets should do during an appearance Tuesday on “Get Up.”
The only quarterback that would’ve forced Sam Darnold to be traded was Trevor Lawrence and Trevor is going No. 1 to Jacksonville. At No. 2, it’s not going to be Justin Fields, in my opinion. It’s going to be Penei Sewell or a trade. The Cincinnati Bengals pick No. 5, they need Penei Sewell at left tackle to protect Joe Burrow. Entice them to move up to No. 2 and move forward with Sam Darnold.
Sam Darnold came out of USC that final year, I said in August it would set up for Sam not to have a great year. He had lost a lot of those key weapons around him on the offensive side of the ball. And with the Jets, he hasn’t had that as well. But he has shown when he’s been out there in enough games last year and this year to know he’s got a chance to be a really good starting quarterback in the NFL.
So if I’m the Jets, Sam’s the man and the second pick hopefully ends up with the Bengals and Penei Sewell, or the Jets just take Penei Sewell, and Mekhi Becton and Penei Sewell helping Sam Darnold. So either way, you can’t lose if you’re the Jets, picking Sewell. Sewell’s the guy at No. 2, whether it’s the Jets or the Bengals.
In a meeting with the media Tuesday on Zoom, Jets general manager Joe Douglas wouldn’t commit to sticking with Darnold. “Look, we’ve got a lot of decisions to make,” Douglas said, per ESPN. “I think Sam’s going to be a great quarterback. I’m excited to get a head coach in here and go through our process.”
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
