Sam Darnold had a look of excitement when he was welcomed home by family and friends shortly after news broke of his trade to the Panthers, but the former Jets first-round pick feels a bittersweet sentiment now that he is settling into his new home.
Speaking for the first time about the deal, Darnold told Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt that while he is excited for his new chapter, he still wishes his time in New York went differently than three lackluster seasons, most recently a 2-14 finish.
"I imagined I was going to be the franchise quarterback of the New York Jets for a long time," Darnold said. "And once you realize that the team that drafted you is moving on, it stings a little bit."
Darnold wasn’t sure where he would play the upcoming season until earlier this month, but up until Joe Douglas told him he was being traded, he maintained the belief that he could turn his career around in New York and live up to his expectations when the Jets traded up to draft him third overall.
“Before the trade happened, I always thought I could make it work in New York,” Darnold said at his introductory press conference with the Panthers on Monday. “I really did. My goals never changed, even though there was speculation about me getting traded. I always believed we could make it work, get some pieces, win some games…and eventually win a Super Bowl. It was tough. Any time you’re not wanted somewhere, that’s always a tough pill to swallow.”
While Darnold had his mind set on improving in New York and being a part of a new era with the team under head coach Robert Saleh, the months of uncertainty following the end of the season were tough to endure, while Douglas spoke of the team still figuring out its future at the quarterback position, and rumors swirling of potential blockbuster trades including Deshaun Watson, or drafting Zack Wilson second overall in this year’s draft.
“That was tough, I’m not gonna lie,” Darnold said. “That was a tough part for me…I feel like I’m a planner…just the uncertainty there, for lack of a better term, was driving me insane. When I found out, it was just a relief to hear the news and find out where my next stop was going to be.”
With the Darnold era officially over in East Rutherford, the USC product now shifts his focus to Carolina, where he will get a new start with offensive playmakers like Christian McAffrey. With the new start comes a need to move on, even if he felt there was unfinished business with Gang Green.
“I believed I could make it work in New York,” Darnold said. “Now that the trade has happened, that way of thinking doesn’t do me any good anymore. I’m ready to start in Carolina and hit the ground running.”
Darnold’s replacement in New York will likely be Zach Wilson, the BYU quarterback that the team highly covets. The last few months of Darnold’s Jets tenure were admittedly not enjoyable, but if he could give any advice to Wilson or whoever takes his place under center for the Jets, it would be to enjoy the ride, even if his didn’t end how he would have liked.
“I would just say, just have fun with it,” Darnold said. “At the end of the day it’s football. There is the business aspect that I found out a couple weeks ago, but have fun with it…you have great coaches over there to be able to lean on…Jets fans are one of a kind, but I’ll be forever grateful for those fans. They taught me so much about myself. I’m just very thankful for the people around the organization.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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