Jets send ‘smoke signal’ about Sam Darnold after trying to trade for Matthew Stafford, NFL insider says – NJ.com

The quarterback carousel is spinning out of control in the NFL.

On Saturday, the Detroit Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and three draft picks, including a pair of first-round selections. But several teams, including the New York Jets, checked in on Stafford before the Lions sent him packing.

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The Jets, as you well know, continue to be linked in trade rumors to the Texans, even though Houston denies it is shopping 25-year-old quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has asked for a trade.

Monday on The Dan Patrick Show, SI’s Albert Breer put the pieces of the puzzle together for the Jets, and it doesn’t look good for Sam Darnold’s future in New York.

I can tell you that one of the teams that checked in on Stafford was the New York Jets. And I don’t think that they were going to go where the Rams went, but you know what that is, Dan? I mean, a couple of other teams, that was sort of a smoke signal to them. Like, OK, like if you’re making a call on Matthew Stafford, by deductive reasoning, does that mean you’re moving on from Sam Darnold? And if you could be moving on from Sam Darnold, now do I put together an offer? You know what I mean? Or do I see what maybe you’re willing to do with him?

So I think that there are certain parts of the Stafford deal that lead to other things, and again, the Texans are naturally going to get calls on Watson. But now that other teams that need quarterbacks who may want a young quarterback see the Jets pick up the phone and call the Lions, if you’re one of those teams, do you pick up the phone and call the Jets about Darnold? I just think it’s fascinating and that of course, plays into the second overall pick. Now are the Jets looking at Zach Wilson or Justin Fields there? That’s where all the moving parts with this are going to be so interesting over the next couple of months.

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