Exactly one year after the Jets made a franchise-altering trade that eventually landed them Sam Darnold, the soon-to-be sophomore quarterback will earn a $1,284,895 roster bonus as part of his four-year, $30.2 million contract.
The Jets put themselves into position to draft Darnold after trading four picks to the Colts for Indianapolis’ No. 3 overall pick on March 17, 2019. New York gave up three picks in the 2018 draft – No. 6, No. 37 and No. 49 overall – as well as a 2019 second-round pick which became the No. 34 overall selection.
When Cleveland picked quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall and the Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley, the Jets swooped in to grab their future franchise signal-caller in Darnold.
The rookie showed promise in his first season in New York, throwing for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 13 games. The Colts, meanwhile, used their cache of Jets picks to beef up their offensive line. Indianapolis drafted guard Quenton Nelson sixth overall and tackle Braden Smith with the 37th pick. Both players earned All-Rookie team honors, and Nelson made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Darnold enters his second season with a new head coach in Adam Gase and a couple new weapons as well. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder and running back Le’Veon Bell are the biggest additions, but left guard Kelechi Osemele is perhaps the most important considering the Jets’ sometimes porous offensive line.
The bonus for Darnold isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but the ramifications of the trade will echo into the Jets’ future for years to come. If Darnold is the franchise quarterback the team believes he is, the trade – and the money – will be worth it. But if he fizzles out, the Jets will have lost four potential players for another failed quarterback. Year 1 of Darnold’s career had it’s ups and downs, but Year 2 will be the most telling.
