5 potential trade destinations for Sam Darnold before 2022 camp
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold could join the Los Angeles Rams
Sam Darnold rose to prominence leading the USC Trojans en route to becoming the No. 3 overall selection in 2018. So who’s to say a move back to the California sunshine wouldn’t be the best thing for his career right now.
In all honesty, the chances of Darnold starting again if the Carolina Panthers did look to deal him are bleak. But if he were to land somewhere like the Los Angeles Rams, it gets him out of the firing line in a system where he can learn and potentially shine moving forward under Sean McVay.
The Rams have their undisputed starter in Matthew Stafford, who made an instant impact in 2021 as the team clinched a memorable Super Bowl success on home soil. However, there isn’t much in the way of depth behind their No. 1 and if Darnold was available on the cheap, it strengthens the team’s backup options if nothing else.
This would arguably be the best-case scenario for Darnold, who could use a season on the sidelines to regroup and learn from Stafford – a player who made the most out of an outstanding opportunity following his trade from the Detroit Lions.
Los Angeles doesn’t have much in the way of cap space, so a significant financial comprise needs to be reached before this scenario comes to fruition. Something the Panthers had to swallow last year when Teddy Bridgewater went to the Denver Broncos.