How Sam Darnold Could Change the NFL’s Quarterback Market Forever

Reclamation quarterbacks have been all the craze in the NFL over the last few seasons.

And no player has benefitted from that trend quite like Sam Darnold.

Darnold was the No. 3 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, but when the New York Jets gave up on him after three seasons, it felt like his career was heading for ruins.

Five years after being jettisoned from New York, Darnold is preparing to lead the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Following his departure from the Jets, Darnold had two failed seasons with the Carolina Panthers before spending time as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.

From there, he revived his career last season with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to the NFL Playoffs before being set free to test free agency.

On a new, shiny, $100 million deal, Darnold’s time in Seattle has been an instant success.

And if he wins the Super Bowl? The copycat league that is the NFL is going to lean into reclamation quarterbacks harder than they ever have before.

Prior to Darnold’s career resurgence, plenty of other reclamation quarterbacks have found success. Hell, the quarterback that Darnold beat in the NFC Championship, Matthew Stafford, was set free by the Detroit Lions and almost immediately won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.

But Baker Mayfield found a new home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Geno Smith has cashed a few nice checks after failing with the Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers. The Rams gave up on Jared Goff, who has had a nice career with the Detroit Lions. Daniel Jones looked like he was on a path of reclamation with the Indianapolis Colts prior to being injured.

Reclamation quarterbacks are nothing new. Trent Dilfer and Jimmy Garoppolo started this trend before it was cool.

But if Darnold wins the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots? Hold onto your hats for what will happen this offseason.

It feels like so many organizations could be on the cusp of divorcing their quarterback. The Miami Dolphins owe Tua Tagovailoa a ton of money, but both parties likely need a fresh start. Kyler Murray’s time with the Arizona Cardinals could be up as well, and is also owed a ton of cash.

Other “failed” first-rounders include Anthony Richardson with the Colts and JJ McCarthy with the Vikings – two young players who will get another chance somewhere else.
How about Mac Jones and Malik Willis? Two quarterbacks that spent this season as backups and impressed during limited action.

Already, there are six quarterbacks that could convince teams that they could be the next Darnold. Will they be? Impossible to say and history says that they won't be.

But if Darnold wins the Super Bowl? You can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a gold rush on reclamation quarterbacks once again this offseason.