Following the completion of the first round of the NFL draft, the Panthers have exercised Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option, the team announced Friday.
While Carolina did consider Ohio State’s Justin Fields with its No. 8 pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team is now putting its faith in Darnold.
The former Jets quarterback’s salary for the 2022 season will be around $18.8 million, fully guaranteed.
Darnold’s fifth-year option played into why New York elected to trade the 23-year-old quarterback to Carolina. The Jets weren’t willing to make the same commitment that Matt Rhule and the Panthers made Friday.
Instead, the Jets can now reset the clock on a rookie quarterback contract after making Zach Wilson the team’s future under center.
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