NY Jets: Is a Sam Darnold trade looming after Carson Wentz deal?

The NY Jets have been keeping a close eye on the quarterback market this offseason. And now that Carson Wentz has officially been traded, could Sam Darnold be the next domino to fall?

It’s certainly very possible.

We’re still just about a month out from the start of free agency, but the trade market has been red hot since the Super Bowl. We’ve already seen the likes of Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, and now Wentz dealt.

Darnold could be the next logical player that quarterback-needy teams pivot to. And the Jets will likely continue listening to offers.

How does the Carson Wentz trade impact Sam Darnold and the NY Jets?

Multiple reports have come out in recent weeks indicating that the Jets are fielding offers from up to four or five teams about Darnold’s availability. To this point, the Jets have essentially told them to stand by for the moment.

As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated indicated recently, the Jets are still finishing up their evaluations of the 2021 NFL Draft class and haven’t made a decision on Darnold’s future just yet.

But given how highly-regarded this QB class is and the fact that Darnold will be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2021, it seems more than likely that the Jets will move on from the former No. 3 overall pick.

Again, nothing is certain yet. But the signs seem to point to Darnold playing for a new team in 2021. And now that the Wentz deal is done, Darnold could be next-in-line.

Teams that missed out on Stafford and Wentz could now turn to the Jets in their pursuit of Darnold. Keep an eye on teams like the Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, and even the New Orleans Saints as potential trade partners.

All three organizations have been in the quarterback market this offseason and don’t possess the draft capital needed to land one of the top signal-callers in this year’s draft.

As for how the Wentz trade affects Darnold’s trade value, there’s a good chance that it remains unchanged. Despite rumors that Wentz could be traded for an exuberant package, the actual deal of a third-round pick and a conditional future second falls in line with what his value was.

That conditional second will become a first, provided Wentz plays 75 percent of his team’s snaps — something that seems likely barring injury.

Darnold’s value is still probably right around a second-round pick plus an additional mid-round selection. There’s a chance the Jets could swindle a late-first out of a team like the Saints, but the former scenario seems more likely.

Ultimately, the Wentz trade pushes Darnold to the forefront of the QB trade market. We’ve seen three quarterbacks traded and we’re only in mid-February.

Sam Darnold could be next.