Early Life And Career

Sam Darnold: Draft Profile, News, and Highlights

Early Life and Career

Sam Darnold was born on June 5, 1997, in Dana Point, California. He began playing football at an early age and quickly showed promise as a quarterback. In high school, he led his team to a state championship and was named a Parade All-American.

After graduating high school, Darnold enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC). As a freshman, he started all 13 games and led the Trojans to a 10-3 record. He was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and earned honorable mention All-American honors.

NFL Draft

In the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold was selected third overall by the New York Jets. He was considered one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft and was widely expected to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick. However, the Cleveland Browns traded up to select Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 pick, and the Jets then traded up to No. 3 to select Darnold.

NFL Career

Darnold started 13 games for the Jets in his rookie season, completing 57.2% of his passes for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 465 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Jets finished the season with a 4-12 record.

In 2019, Darnold started all 16 games for the Jets, completing 61.9% of his passes for 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 592 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Jets finished the season with a 7-9 record.

Trade to the Panthers

In April 2021, the Jets traded Darnold to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Darnold was expected to be the starting quarterback for the Panthers in 2021, but he suffered a foot injury in the preseason and was placed on injured reserve.

Vikings

In 2022, Darnold was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He competed with Kellen Mond for the starting quarterback job, but ultimately lost out. Darnold started three games for the Vikings in 2022, completing 59.3% of his passes for 784 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 33 yards and 1 touchdown.

Scouting Report

Darnold is a 6'4", 230-pound quarterback with a strong arm and good mobility. He is a good athlete who can make plays with his legs and is also capable of throwing the ball deep down the field. However, he can be inconsistent at times and has a tendency to make mistakes. Overall, Darnold has the potential to be a good NFL quarterback, but he needs to improve his consistency and decision-making.