I can not praise this move enough… we just got one of the fastest WRs in the NFL (to pair with one of the other fastest WRs in the NFL in JSN) on an expiring rookie deal…
You probably didn’t notice - go back and look at Week 1 to Week 4 under Kubiak’s system in New Orleans last year and look at his stats before all the injuries decimated the Saints last year:
Week 1 @ Dallas: 4 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD
Week 3 @ Atlanta: 8 catches, 83 yards
Week 4 vs New York Giants: 4 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD.
Sam Darnold is about to be even further unlocked. Safeties will not be able to come up - ever. His speed and downfield concepts will force defenses to respect him every snap he’s out there. Think of him as a budget cap friendly replacement for what Metcalf gave us. It will open up the middle of the field for more in breaking routes to JSN, Horton, Arroyo, Barner, etc…
I also think this is going help open up the run game as we get into the cold/late season for a bonus.
A cap friendly, non punitive big swing to boost our offense into contention time. I could not love this any more.