CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new quarterback is coming to the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers added Sam Darnold in a trade with the Jets Monday, acquiring the former No. 3 overall pick in exchange for a 2021 sixth-round pick, a 2022 second round pick and a 2022 fourth round pick. The deal was far lower than trading up for one of the premier draft prospects or for Deshaun Watson, which posed its own set of issues.
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Darnold, who will be 24 years old when the season starts, has shown flashes of talent. He was considered an untouchable player on the Jets’ roster in his second season, but it became clear the Jets could move on when general manager Joe Douglas acknowledged he would answer calls from teams interested in acquiring him.
The USC product has more career interceptions (39) than games played (38), which is part of the reason he was available, but there’s reason to believe he will shine in a new environment.
When he joins Carolina, Darnold will reunite with his former receiver Robby Anderson and be greeted with Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore. He will also be under a more stable coaching staff.
Already, he has played for two head coaches in three seasons with the Jets -- which is believed to have some impact on his performance.
Darnold has one year left on his rookie deal at a reasonable $4.774 million in base salary and roster bonus. Assuming the Panthers want to guarantee having him for more than one year, they have until May 3 to exercise his fifth-year option of $18.858 million. That figure is guaranteed upon execution (in the past, it was only guaranteed for injury).
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The Panthers front office made it known that they weren’t content with Teddy Bridgewater as the starting quarterback at the start of free agency. Now they have rolled the dice with another low risk high reward in Darnold.
The Panthers still have seven picks in the 2021 NFL Draft --eighth overall, along with 39, 73, 113, 151, 193, and 222.
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