We’ve seen this act before.
That is a quarterback cast off from his original team, even multiple teams, and then find his rhythm and emerge as one of the most successful signal callers in the league. Last season, it was Sam Darnold, who after unsuccessful stints with the team that drafted him third overall in 2018, the New York Jets, and stops with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, found his perfect spot with the Minnesota Vikings.
In his only season in Minnesota, Darnold led the Vikings to the second most regular season wins in their franchise history, 15. But, the Vikings went a different direction this season, returning to what they thought was going to be their offensive leader last year, J.J. McCarthy. Darnold had been signed by Minnesota expecting to back-up the rookie, but a preseason injury ended the rookie’s campaign and opened the door for him to enjoy the best year of his career.
It doesn’t have to end abruptly without a postseason win.
In 1980, the Oakland Raiders traded Ken Stabler to the Houston Oilers for Dan Pastorini. The prior two seasons in Oakland, the Raiders back-up was Jim Plunkett. The one time overall first pick in the 1971 draft, played his first five seasons with the New England Patriots and never lived up to what they expected. For two seasons Plunkett toiled in San Francisco in years before the 49ers added Joe Montana and got good.
Then, in a game against their division rival in 1980, Pastorini was injured, and Plunkett came on to lead a win over the San Diego Chargers. Then another, and another, and another and suddenly the ten-year veteran found his stride and led the Silver and Black to a pair of Super Bowl wins to complete the 1980 and 1983 seasons.