Floram Park, NJ – as he prepares for the final three games of the season – and perhaps his New York Jets career – Sam Dornold said Monday, still imagining himself as the owner’s long-term solution at quarterback.
Despite his personal struggles and the team’s 0-13 record, Dornold said he did not want a fresh start with another team.
“I like it here,” he said. “I love people. I want to live here. I always said I wanted to be a jet, but I didn’t need that decision. But I feel that way.”
Just as Dornold wants to stay, he will be replaced by a high draft pick. The Jets have already reached the top three in the 2021 NFL Draft. With the current worst record, they have a 74% chance of getting the No. 1 pick, according to the ESPN Football Power Index. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, forecast means the best choice.
Dornold has heard growing speculation about Lawrence and other top prospects, but he still believes he’s the right quarterback to take the Jets to a respectable position.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “I believe in myself as a quarterback, frankly, I do not have that result, but I will always believe in myself. I’m very confident in going out there and playing good football on Sundays.”
Tornald has not had any good Sundays this season. He is ranked 32nd out of 33 quarterbacks who qualify as a starter 0-9 and overall QBR (36.5). The only quarterback with the lowest QBR was Alex Smith (35.4) of the Washington football team.
“I don’t care what’s piled up outside our locker room or what others are saying,” Dornald said, not passing more than 230 yards in one game. “For me, I’m worried about playing good football.”
Dornald has one year left on his rookie contract (8 9.8 million hat fee). By May, the Jets will have to make a decision on its fifth year option in 2022 – estimated 25 million, fully guaranteed. That amount appears to have been withheld based on how he acted.
With the draft in late April, the jets will know where they are standing. If they decide to build a quarterback, they will definitely try to trade Dornalt, they made the third draft in 2018 overall.
Dornald had another sluggish game on Sunday in the Jets’ 40-3 defeat to Seahorks in Seattle, which they lost in 29 games under coach Adam Case. He only passed 132 yards, and the offense failed to hit the touchdown for the fourth time.
Case was in favor of Donald, saying Sunday’s loss could not be blamed on the quarterback. He said there were many fractures around him. Case also rejected the idea of putting Dornold on the bench to give him a break.
“This is the hardest part of our business,” Case said. “Sometimes you have to go as a player, especially as a quarterback. You have to find a way to help your teammates be better and find a way to put points on the board and find ways to move the football.
“I don’t think it’s helpful for him to step down. I think he’s going to have to keep up the pressure, he’s going to have to fight.