The path to Sam Darnold actually began when Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan, a year after inexplicably drafting Christian Hackenberg in the second round, passed on Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson to select Jamal Adams.
Watson shows up with his 9-4 Texans on Saturday at MetLife Stadium 20 games into a career that appears destined for stardom.
Watson, much like Mahomes when he began mimicking a young Brett Favre in his second season, stepped off the bus rifling touchdown passes as a rookie (19 TDs, 8 INTs before his season-ending ACL tear) and tormenting defenses with his legs (36-269-2 TDs) at the same time.