It was evident by the end of preseason that New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold was going to start for the team. The other four signal callers picked in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft seemed to be destined to be holding a clipboard, but that is quickly changing.
After the third week of the NFL regular season, four of them — (Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, and Darnold) have seen playing time, and the quartet might actually start for their teams in Week 4. Some are out of necessity, while others have earned time behind center.
The teams that drafted the quarterbacks are a combined 5-9-1, with only the Baltimore Ravens having a winning record at 2-1. Not surprisingly, Lamar Jackson, taken with the last pick in the first round by the Ravens, is the only one of the five that hasn’t had any significant playing time.
Darnold is the only one to start all three games for his squad, but Allen was the starter for the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. Mayfield took over for the Cleveland Browns and Rosen was put in late in the fourth quarter for the Cardinals. Both players might be at the top of the depth chart by next week.
Darnold First to Start
The Jets had designs on using Darnold almost from the moment they drafted him with the third overall pick. The USC alum was considered a better prospect than No. 1 pick Mayfield, and was the only one of the five to be announced as the starter for the first week of the regular season.
In a Monday night game against the Lions, Darnold became the youngest QB to start a season opener since 1970. He did not disappoint. He led the Jets to a 48-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. He was the first quarterback to win his first start by 31 or more points since Tom Brady in 2001, per ESPN Stats & Info. He finished 16 of 21 for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
His next two games, however, were not as impressive. In a 20-12 loss to AFC East rival Miami, he threw two interceptions and one touchdown. Last Thursday, he went up against Mayfield and ended up on the losing side, going 15 of 31 and two interceptions.
Mayfield Wins Over Cleveland
Cleveland Coach Hue Jackson had resisted pressure to put the top pick Mayfield in the lineup, but had no choice when first-teamer Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of Thursday’s game in the second quarter with a possible concussion.
Mayfield came in and led the team to a thrilling, 21-17 comeback victory over the Jets. It was the first victory for the team in almost two years, and pretty much guaranteed his ascension to starter.
Though Jackson was coy after the victory, on Monday he named the rookie his starter for the team’s Sunday game against Oakland. They are 2.5-point underdogs on the road.
Allen, Rosen Making Progress
Allen was actually the second of the five to start, taking over for Nathan Peterman in the first week, and playing the next two games. The Wyoming alum shocked Minnesota on Sunday, leading the Bills to their first victory, defeating the Vikings, 27-6. They were a 17-point underdog.
Rosen was inserted into the lineup late in the Cardinals, 16-14 loss to Chicago. He only played a little more than four minutes, and had an interception, but could challenge Sam Bradford for the starting job. Arizona Coach Steve Wilks said he hasn’t made a decision who will be next Sunday’s starter.
“I’m going to look at everything to make sure I make the right decision for this team,” Wilks said.