New York Jets: Grading and analyzing Sam Darnold’s 2019 season

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold had his fair share of ups and downs in his second NFL season. We take a look at his 2019 season and how he performed.

Had Sam Darnold not gotten sick with mononucleosis earlier last season, the New York Jets quarterback could have seen playoff action. This is huge for the second-year quarterback.

It was only his second year, and the Jets vastly improved under him. That speaks volumes unheard of and screams hope. Jets fans should be hopeful.

This appears to mean nothing but big hope for 2020 as the Jets went 7-9 in general, which is a solid improvement from last season in which they went 4-12. The team is rebuilding rather strong and getting all the pieces needed to contend.

The Jets’ future face of the franchise threw 19 touchdowns and passed for 3,024 yards this season. Last season he threw for 2,865 yards and had 17 touchdowns.

This is a solid step in the right direction for Darnold and his Jets. It suggests overall growth in Darnold’s game considering he missed some time as well and still did better than he did his rookie season.

Given the fact that the Jets have several areas that need to be addressed this offseason — for example along the offensive line and at wide receiver — Sam Darnold could play much better with better protection.

His numbers weren’t bad at all to put things into perspective, but you can only imagine what he’d be capable of if he had the right weapons around him. He now has the experience needed, even if he did miss a chunk of time due to his bout with mononucleosis starting back in Week 2.

Darnold is a natural playmaker and seems to learn at a very quick pace. He adjusted well to NFL life, the playbook, and despite a quarrel with head coach Adam Gase on the sidelines, there is no doubt that he is the future face of the franchise.

Needless to say, the Jets are a totally different team with and without him under center.

When Darnold was ruled out with illness starting back in Week 2, it was clear that everything fell apart and the whole team felt the loss.

When he returned, and more and more Jets returned from their various injuries, the team came together to beat tough oppositions such as the Dallas Cowboys rather handily.

At the end of the day, Sam Darnold is growing and continued to improve after his rookie year. With a solidified offensive line, these results should be even better, suggesting more hope for an even better 2020.

Grade: B+