4 signs that suggest Panthers QB Sam Darnold might be a lost cause
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold has not improved major flaws
One only has to look at the pre-draft analysis of Sam Darnold before he even entered the league to see where the problems arise. You can correlate these assessments into what the quarterback has managed to accomplish so far during his professional career – complications that quickly reared their head once again once Christian McCaffrey went out of the lineup for a consistent period through injury in 2021.
The main concerns surrounding Darnold were decision-making, footwork, and processing information quickly on the field. This did not stop the New York Jets from taking him No. 3 overall in 2018 and despite these major flaws evident throughout his stint at MetLife Stadium, it did not stop the Carolina Panthers from sacrificing significant draft capital to bring him on board.
Not having the premier security blanket traits of McCaffrey to call upon piled a substantial amount of pressure on Darnold. This was his big moment to prove beyond all doubt that he can successfully lead an NFL franchise, but things went south pretty quickly both before and after his spell on the reserve/injured list.
Working with a hugely respected figure in quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan hasn’t changed Darnold’s tendencies all that much. Whether McAdoo can work some magic on the signal-caller remains to be seen, but his contract probably dictates another shot at progression at OTAs and training camp before the coaching staff comes to a final conclusion.