Three years into his career with the Jets, Sam Darnold seems to be on his way out of town. Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Jets to land second- or third-round pick in Sam Darnold trade?

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 2/8/21

New York Jets rumors have picked up big time in recent days as they relate to a potential Sam Darnold trade. Gang Green is selecting No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and has been linked to Houston Texans star signal caller Deshaun Watson in trade talks.

There’s certainly some interest in Darnold despite some major consistency issues during his three-year tenure with the Jets.

However, the Jets are seemingly looking to generate interest in order to land a first-round pick in exchange for the quarterback. That’s highly unlikely to happen.

“Rival executives say the Jets are working hard to drum up interest in Darnold, with the hopes of getting a first-round pick,” The Athletic reported on Monday. “That might be a little rich, and some league sources think getting a second- or third-rounder for Darnold is more realistic.”

That would be a low price for a team to pay for a young quarterback who has displayed flashes of potential since the Jets made him the No. 3 overall pick back in 2018.

Among those bandied about as a potential suitor, the San Francisco 49ers keep popping up as a landing spot in a Darnold trade. Head coach Kyle Shanahan loved him coming out of USC back in 2018.

San Francisco is also looking to upgrade from Jimmy Garoppolo, who could potentially be headed back to the New England Patriots. The 49ers have the 43rd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. They also have a compensatory third-round pick after defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was hired to be the Jets’ next head coach.

The Saleh note is interesting because the Jets and 49ers now have a built-in relationship when it comes to the decision makers within each organization.

Other options for Darnold include the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers and Washington Football Team, among several other organizations.

What will the Jets' quarterback room look like in 2021?

Short of the Jets pulling off a blockbuster Deshaun Watson trade, it’s highly likely that Gang Green will be rolling with either Zach Wilson (BYU) or Justin Fields (Ohio State). If the Jets trade Darnold, that second pick in April will be used on a quarterback.

However, there’s seemingly some truth to the Watson rumors. The Jets join the division rival Miami Dolphins in being able to offer the best package for the Houston star.

That would include the No. 2 pick and the Jets' first rounder, acquired in the Jamal Adams trade from the Seattle Seahawks (23rd overall), as well as multiple other assets.

Whether it’s something the rebuilding Jets would be willing to offer remains to be seen. What we do know is that Darnold appears to be a goner after just three seasons in the Big Apple.

It will be interesting to see what general manager Joe Douglas has up his sleeve in New York this offseason. The Jets are looking to build this whole thing up after the disastrous Adam Gase tenure. That will more than likely start at quarterback.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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