NY Jets to Trade QB Sam Darnold to Carolina Panthers

The New York Jets will trade quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers for three draft picks, including a second-rounder, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The Jets will get the Panthers’ sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and second- and fourth-round picks in 2022.

Darnold, 23, was the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC, but following multiple changes in the front office and two new head coaches, fell out of favor after three seasons as the team’s starting quarterback.

Darnold threw for 2,208 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games with New York last season for a 72.7 passer rating. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option available for 2022.

The Jets are expected to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft later this month, most likely BYU’s Zach Wilson.

Carolina has 2020 starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater under contract for two more seasons. Bridgewater is set to make nearly $39 million over the final two seasons of his three-year contract he signed with the team as a free agent last offseason.

Bridgewater started 15 games and threw for 3,733 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2020 with Carolina, posting a 92.1 passer rating.

Darnold had been one of several quarterbacks linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers as potential acquisitions this offseason as the teams begins to look beyond the tenure of current starter Ben Roethlisberger, whose contract will void at the end of the 2021 season.