The past couple of seasons for the New York Jets have been nothing short of a circus. Between the drama that Aaron Rodgers brought and the dismal performance on the field, it has been a rough few years for Jets fans.
With a new head coach in Aaron Glenn and the organization officially moving out of the Rodgers business, it looks like the future is a little more stable in New York. And one analyst believes that stability could also lead to a reunion for the team.
New York Jets Predicted To Land Familiar Face in Free Agency
Sam Darnold had one of the most impressive breakouts in recent memory. After six years of relative mediocrity, he broke out for a spectacular 4,319-yard passing season, along with 35 touchdowns.
With the fifth-most passing yards in the league, he powered Minnesota to a 14-3 record and even heard some MVP buzz towards himself. And Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes he’s an ideal candidate to return to New York.
“My February prediction? The Vikes let Darnold get away in favor of McCarthy,” which would directly lead to, “Darnold goes back to the Jets in place of Aaron Rodgers.”
For New York, it will be a risky proposition. In three seasons with the team, Darnold never showed any consistency to consider him their franchise quarterback.
Since then, he has floundered in pitstops with the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers, before finding his footing with the Vikings. Some caution might be necessary, but in a draft class that isn’t rich with elite quarterbacks, taking a gamble on Darnold might not be the worst idea.
Simultaneously, it would make sense for Minnesota as well to elevate their redshirt rookie J.J. McCarthy to the starter’s role. With elite offensive weapons like Justin Jefferson and the reigning Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell, the team is set up perfectly for the youngster.
Darnold, who finished nine spots head of Rodgers on PFSN’s QB+ metric (12 vs. 21), would be a massive upgrade for New York immediately. But, with the age difference between the two quarterbacks, he could be a valuable investment in the long run as well.