The highly anticipated Sam Darnold era will begin for the New York Jets tonight in Detroit.
Can he finally deliver a Super Bowl trophy to a fan base that's waited for nearly a half-century while becoming the first former USC quarterback to do so as a Super Sunday starter?
One recent NFL retiree, who also happens to be a former Trojans quarterback, definitely believes so.
"I think there's no doubt whatsoever that Sam's good enough to win the Super Bowl," Carson Palmer told USA TODAY Sports. "But it doesn't just depend on the quarterback. There's so many factors that go into a Super Bowl championship that rely heavily on the organization.
"We'll see. The Jets have been quite a mess for a long time now. If they can figure things out and find a way to make Sam the best player he can be, then they'll win a Super Bowl I believe."
Palmer, who hung up his cleats after the 2017 season following a 15-year pro career, came within one win of taking the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 campaign.
Unlike Buffalo Bills first rounder Josh Allen, for example, Darnold's past experience should serve him well immediately, Palmer says, even though at just 21, he's about to become the youngest player to start under center since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
"Sam's played against NFL-caliber players," said Palmer, whose brother Jordan trained . Darnold in the lead-up to April's draft. "He's got a bunch of reps underneath his belt, great player in high school, went to college and had the chance to sit and learn — all of a sudden he gets his opportunity and goes in and just wins game after game after game. I think the future is extremely bright for him and for the Jets."
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