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David Levine -> RE: 2024 Free Agency (3/12/2024 10:40:03 AM)
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This is a shockingly reasonable comment from DN:
LIHTX:
I wasn't a fan of Darnold when he came out and thought it was ridiculous that any team would take him in the top ten. But, with that said, he was the free agent "bridge QB" that clearly offers the most potential relative to value and more context is needed as to why the Vikings focused on him.
First, forget about his tenure with the Jets. No QB succeeds with the Jets. They're a garbage franchise where QBs go to die. When their best QB in the last 30 years is frickin' Vinny Testaverde that says a lot. Darnold was projected to be the first overall pick prior to his final year at USC. His production fell off a bit; he was still taken third overall. The Jets threw him immediately into the fire with no offensive line and no skill position weapons. He undeniably was not good. The Jets traded him to Carolina where he was projected to be the starter until he suffered a serious high ankle sprain during a preseason game requiring surgery. So Mayfield took over and was absolute crap (funny how he wasn't that bad in Tampa though with actual offensive weapons around him). Darnold came back Week 12 and Carolina went 4-2 (albeit if not for a bullshit pass interference call against Tampa they would have went 5-1). Darnold beat both Seattle and Detroit when both were in the playoff hunt. Everyone assumed Carolina would extend him, they did not -- after all, they're Carolina. Shanahan then signs him as a FA and he has such a good training camp/preseason for SF that they trade Trey Lance (their 2nd overall pick) to the Cowboys. Because Purdy was expected to miss the beginning of the year, Shanahan actually named Darnold the starter having prepared to implement a quick-hitting passing attack and complimenting it with CMC running the football of course. Shanahan thought they could win that way. But then Purdy surprised everyone by being ready to play Week 1. The rest is history.
Based on those objective facts, I just don't see Darnold as the definitive bust that he's made out to be. I'd argue that at most his résumé is "inconclusive" and possibly that of a victim of circumstance. So he was good enough for Shanahan while they were favored to go to the Super Bowl, but he's not good enough for a desperate QB-needy team like the Vikes?
Bottom line: If KOC has any QB whisperer in him than he should be able to work with Sam. The arm talent is there, he's more mobile than he's given credit for and he's still only a few years older than Daniels, Penix and Nix. NFL coaches are actually expected to tutor and develop their players, you know, not just stand on the sideline looking comatose like Buddy Ryan used to do. Andy Reid makes QBs better... Kyle Shanahan makes QBs better... Matt LaFleur makes QBs better... Mike Holmgren, Norv Turner, Bruce Arians, Tom Moore, etc. There are indicators that KOC may possess similar traits. But if not, then why is he the HC? if the only thing KOC is good for is ensuring opponents get additional points right before halftime with his perplexing clock management skills, then fire the guy. Because if KOC cannot do a damn thing for Darnold then why would anyone expect him to develop Maye, McCarthy or Nix?
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