Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is in the unenviable position of watching his team try to replace him.
Sam Darnold described the actions of the franchise as ‘a little shot to the ego’. It reopens a recent wound for Sam Darnold, who experienced exactly the same thing when the Jets drafted Zach Wilson in the 2021 NFL Draft.
As a result, Darnold moved to Carolina where he finished 4 – 7 and ranked as one of the worst quarterbacks in the league.
Carolina aggressively pursued DeShaun Watson, who ended up signing with the Browns. The Panthers then looked at Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, Matt Corral of MI State and Malik Willis of Liberty at the quarterback Pro Days.
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“It’s truly whatever happens happens, because at the end of the day it’s out of my control, and I know that,” Darnold, 24, said.
“I have enough security in myself where I can say, ‘I know I’m a good quarterback. I know I can be a good quarterback in this league. I’ve proved it.’
“And I know there’s a team, if something happens, that would want me.”
Darnold is serving up classic ‘that’s the business’ fare, but can’t help but betray his resentment at how his career is playing out since being drafted in 2018.
“At the end of the day somebody has got to answer for it,” Darnold said.
“Whoever it is. The GM. The coach. If something happens like that, we’ll see what they have to say, and that’s about it.”
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“The part that pisses me is off is when people judge my game, like how I’m playing,” he said.
“Then I’m like, ‘Go strap it up.’ I’m [like], ‘You’re a fan and I respect you as a fan. You can talk all the s— you want, I’m not going to do anything at the end of the day, but take it easy.’
