WATCH: Why Kurt Warner believes Jets' Sam Darnold can be a face of the NFL
As Sam Darnold gets set for his second season in the pros, a Hall of Fame quarterback thinks a sophomore surge could be in the works for him.
Darnold and the New York Jets kick off the regular season vs. the visiting Buffalo Bills on Sept. 8. Super Bowl champion quarterback Kurt Warner spoke to the Jets about his thoughts on Darnold.
Last season as a rookie, Darnold finished with 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. After sustaining a foot injury, Darnold finished the final four games of the season strong with 931 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
Warner wants to see Darnold build off the conclusion of last season.
"Well I think any time you're talking about young guys, you see a level of talent and skill, which we all saw in Sam last year. It's about consistency," Warner said. "It's about: 'Can you take that product and show up week in and week out and do those same sorts of things?' You can't have glimpses where it's one game good and the next game bad or one game good and two games bad."
Darnold just finished off an excellent preseason in which he threw for 211 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions.
"You want to see these young guys start to develop and understanding how to play the game, how to play it at a consistently high level because he's got all the skill," Warner said. "So that's what I'm waiting to see."
Warner cites coach Adam Gase and running back Le'Veon Bell as positive factors for Darnold's development.
"Adam Gase has done some great things with quarterbacks and offenses," Warner said. "With some of the pieces now, like Le'Veon [Bell] in the backfield, it's going to be exciting to see."
Warner is rooting for Darnold to evolve into a potent franchise quarterback and says he has an excellent chance to be one of the league's future cornerstones.
"You pull for these young guys that you want to be that next generation and kind of faces of the NFL. I think Sam's got a great opportunity to do that. You're hoping he takes strides from last year," Warner said. "You hope Year 1 to Year 2, a lot of people say that's where players make their biggest strides, between Year 1 and Year 2. If that's the case, I'm excited to watch Sam play this year."
