NY Jets: 5 most likely trade destinations for QB Sam Darnold

5. The NY Jets could trade Sam Darnold to the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are likely the only team on this list that Sam Darnold wouldn’t be given a chance to start on, at least not right away.

Despite some reports that indicated otherwise, it seems as though the Steelers are going to run it back with Ben Roethlisberger for at least one more year.

The 39-year-old quarterback is clearly a shell of his former self, but Pittsburgh is hoping he has enough left in the tank to put together some sort of run in 2021. However, if things go south, it could help to have another QB to lean on.

Perhaps that player is Sam Darnold.

Darnold could act as insurance for Roethlisberger and, more importantly, be his potential replacement in 2022 and beyond. Of course, Darnold’s contract situation makes that scenario a little tricky.

This would assume they pick up his fifth-year option in May and ultimately pay him close to $20 million in 2022. Given what we’ve seen from Darnold so far, it’s hard to say he’s worth that.

But Pittsburgh is still clearly interested. Not only based on uStadium’s report, but a report from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer indicated the same earlier in the week.

Darnold is still only 23-years-old and it’s possible that the Steelers could see him as Roethlisberger’s heir apparent. It’s likely they won’t have to surrender significant draft capital either.

Still, because of his poor play and contract situation, this doesn’t seem like a move that the Steelers would make. For Darnold, however, it would undoubtedly place him in the best situation of his NFL career.

This one isn’t a probability, but it remains a possibility.

Next: 4. Washington Football Team