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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Sam Neumann

Panthers exercise 5th-year option on ex-Jets QB Sam Darnold

Following the completion of the first round of the NFL draft, the Panthers have exercised Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option, the team announced Friday.

While Carolina did consider Ohio State’s Justin Fields with its No. 8 pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team is now putting its faith in Darnold.

The former Jets quarterback’s salary for the 2022 season will be around $18.8 million, fully guaranteed.

Darnold’s fifth-year option played into why New York elected to trade the 23-year-old quarterback to Carolina. The Jets weren’t willing to make the same commitment that Matt Rhule and the Panthers made Friday.

Instead, the Jets can now reset the clock on a rookie quarterback contract after making Zach Wilson the team’s future under center.

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