INDIANAPOLIS -- Mark Sanchez provided some positive moments as a rookie in 2009, but the New York Jets really haven't derived this much optimism from a young quarterback since Chad Pennington in 2002. Pennington's chance to be great was undermined by shoulder injuries. The biggest threat to Sam Darnold is his own team -- specifically, the front office. The onus is on general manager Mike Maccagnan & Co. to protect the team's most valuable asset by building a strong offensive line.
The Jets might have something special in Darnold, and they can't blow it by letting him become a human pinata.