Did Sam Darnold do enough to earn Jets starting job?

As the New York Jets prepare to end their preseason on a high note, did rookie quarterback Sam Darnold do enough to earn the starting job?

Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold may have shown flashes of talent that’s raw, promising, and hopeful, but will the New York Jets be bold enough to start him for the regular season? It’s not easy to live up to being the next face of the franchise but so far, Darnold has said and done all the right things needed to earn such a title.

One of the biggest attributes Darnold has is his ability to stay calm, cool, and collective regardless of the situation he’s in. To keep such poise on the gridiron isn’t easy to master but Darnold has done a solid job in that aspect all preseason long.

Preseason football is obviously comparing apples to oranges when it comes to a regular season matchup but if this is a small glimpse into the future, Darnold looks to be the real deal. If he can continue to progress in games that count, there is no telling how successful he can be over his first few years in the NFL.

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The only concern is the fact that perhaps Darnold would benefit more from sitting a few games at the start of the regular season to learn from the sideline. That is, after all, the biggest reason why the Jets brought back veteran Josh McCown and signed Teddy Bridgewater via free agency.

Both veteran quarterbacks are with the Jets just for the 2018 season, so it might make more sense to start the year with McCown or Bridgewater. That way, Darnold can continue to be developed and then at some point during the regular season, be given the start once he’s completely ready.

Darnold has not had a real challenge yet and throwing him too soon to the wolves might end up being a huge mistake. Especially since the Jets have two more than capable veteran quarterbacks that can hold the fort until it’s time for the Darnold era to begin.

While Darnold has likely done enough to earn the starting job for the Jets, it might be best to wait just a few more weeks before unleashing him to the football world. Patience is key when it comes to the development of a future franchise quarterback, especially in their rookie season.