The Carolina Panthers concluded this spring that Sam Darnold was the young quarterback most worthy of their investment, as they acquired the former first-round draft pick in a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets.
But does Darnold, entering his fourth season in the NFL, have the necessary tools and makeup to defy his critics and develop into a franchise quarterback for the Panthers? Franchise legend Jake Delhomme is optimistic.
"I hope so. I don't know any other way to say it. I'm not going to sugarcoat it and say 100-percent I believe it. I hope so," the former Panthers quarterback told the Tiki and Tierney show on Thursday. "This is the [2018] third overall pick, he's a talented guy, his arm is plenty strong enough. He certainly can move well enough, he's athletic enough. The turnover gene has bit him, and it bit him some in college. So, that has to be corrected...
"He's got to start fast, in my opinion. This team needs to start fast, and him having some success. This isn't a media market anything like New York, being in Charlotte. And they truly embrace their quarterbacks in Charlotte... If the schedule can get set out correctly for him and have success early on, it can snowball into some positive things..."
Darnold, who turned 24 in June, encountered a perfect storm of instability with the Jets. In three seasons, he went just 13-25 as a starter, and finished the 2020 campaign as the NFL's lowest-rated passer (72.7). Dating back to 2018 -- his rookie year -- Darnold's career passer rating (78.6) ranks dead last among qualifying quarterbacks (39 of 39).
To make matters worse, Darnold has also struggled to stay healthy since joining the league. He missed three games as a rookie with a sprained foot, three games in 2019 due to mononucleosis, and four games last season with a sprained throwing shoulder. In 38 career games, Darnold has thrown for a total of 8,097 yards with 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions.
Back in May, Carolina picked up the fifth-year option on Darnold's contract. According to Spotrac.com, he's due to count $4.7 million against the cap in 2021, and $18.8 million against the cap in 2022.
Carolina will fittingly open the 2021 regular season at home against the Jets on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, the Panthers currently have the worst odds (+1100) to win the NFC South division.
The entire Panthers conversation between Delhomme and Tiki and Tierney can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Tiki and Tierney Show on Twitter @TikiAndTierney and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.