The New York Jets selected quarterback Sam Darnold with the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft knowing full well he needed some time to develop. One of the areas of focus thus far has been securing the football.
Despite being touted as the most talented quarterback in his class, Darnold was a bit careless with the ball during his final year at USC. In fact, he even acknowledged his struggles during the draft process, according to Jacob Feldman of SI.com:
“When we went on a visit during the draft period, he even discussed that with us and talked about how he’d been training with Jordan [Palmer],” Bates says. “You watch every play now and he’s in there with two hands on the ball pushing up in the pocket.”
It is interesting to see that Darnold is well-aware of his flaws going into his rookie campaign. It is also not uncommon for young quarterbacks to have fumbling issues early on. Although it may seem a bit fundamental at this point, it is an issue that could have some serious consequences down the road. Darnold fumbled 12 times in 14 games last season at USC which is a number that could easily increase now that he is in the NFL.
Fortunately, the Jets are in a position where they can be patient with Darnold's progression in the 2018 NFL season. He currently sits third on the depth chart behind quarterbacks Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater. Although McCown has been pegged as the starter, head coach Todd Bowles has indicated that nothing will be set in stone until the season draws closer.
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