The two quarterbacks in New York are entering a very important 2020 season with plenty of similarities and differences. Jets’ Sam Darnold and Giants’ Daniel Jones will be under center for football teams that bring the most pressure from fans and media in the league.
Let’s begin with a major difference. The New York Jets drafted Sam Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. From day one, Darnold was praised and viewed as the franchise quarterback before even stepping on the field.
The Jets felt like they got a steal when the Cleveland Browns opted for Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 pick. This was not the case for Daniel Jones. The New York Giants passed on Darnold in 2018 in favor of Saquon Barkley. during the 2019 NFL Draft, they shocked the world by selecting Daniel Jones sixth overall. This was to the dismay of many fans.
Despite the two young quarterbacks entering the league in different fashions, they are connected by the city of New York. they both have a lot to prove in 2020. For Darnold, there is a little more pressure to succeed. The Jets and their fans enter every season with a delusional mindset that they will turn it around and post a winning record to get into the postseason. The 2020 season is no different.
Darnold missed time early last season with mono. That has been used as a hall pass by Jets’ fans but that is not acceptable. No one was crying mono when Darnold beat the Dallas Cowboys with 338 yards and two touchdowns. Or when he put up four touchdowns against Washington.
Mono was only an excuse for Sam Darnold when he finished 11-32 for 86 yards and four interceptions against the New England Patriots. Or when he looked lost against the winless Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.
For Daniel Jones, his career started out with a win thanks to a missed field goal in Tampa Bay. Jones finished 23-36 for 336 yards and four total touchdowns, two on the ground. He would finish his rookie season with 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions. Jones has always had a fumbling issue and that continued in year one. He fumbled 18 times losing 11.
Heading into 2020, neither team is expected to be anything great. Both sides are just looking for their quarterback to take the next step. So which one will take that step and have the better 2020 season?
