Ex-Jets ready to give up on Sam Darnold for Trevor Lawrence

[joewilly12]

Ex-Jets ready to give up on Sam Darnold for Trevor Lawrence

By Mark Cannizzaro

October 16, 2020 | 2:14am

 

The consensus among the players who played on the 1996 Jets who went 1-15 on what the 2020 Jets, who are on a potential track to finish 0-16 and get the No. 1-overall draft pick, is that it’s time for a change at quarterback — if they can land Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

The former players say if the Jets earn the No. 1 pick and have a chance to draft Lawrence, it’s a no-brainer: Take him and move on from Sam Darnold.

“I’m going to be real with you: I don’t think Darnold is the one,’’ former cornerback Ray Mickens told The Post. “I think the Jets need to do everything they can to get Trevor Lawrence. True franchise quarterbacks don’t come around but like once in a decade. Trevor Lawrence is the next guy — a franchise-changing quarterback.’’

Mickens, whose son, RJ, is a freshman at Clemson, and former Jets safety Victor Green, who has known Lawrence since the quarterback’s high school days, are close to the situation.

Both believe Lawrence can turn around the Jets.

 

“You’ve got to take that guy,’’ Mickens said. “When you talk about a guy like [coach Bill] Parcells coming in to change the program [from ’96], there ain’t no other coach out there like Parcells that’s going to change the Jets program. You’re going to need a player to change it. Whatever coach that comes in there, if you don’t have that quarterback, it ain’t going to matter.’’

 

Green’s son Elijah was on the Blessed Trinity high school team that handed Lawrence his second and last high school defeat (Lawrence has just one loss in two-plus seasons at Clemson), in 2017, and is now at North Carolina.

“We beat Trevor Lawrence here in the high school state title; that was his only loss,’’ Green said. “I had to scout him because I was coaching DBs at the time at my son’s high school team and I said back then, ‘This dude is going to be the first-overall pick.’ That was when he was in high school. So, I’ve known about this kid for a long time and I’m a pretty good judge of personnel, and look where he is. He will be the first pick. If this Jets team goes 0-16, they’ve got to take Trevor Lawrence.’’

Former linebacker Marvin Jones, the head coach of the Arena Football League’s Omaha Beef for the past three years, said, “Sam Darnold is damaged good right now. … It’s going to be hard for him to turn his career around.’’

Former Jets linebacker Chad Cascadden, who serves as a Jets analyst on SNY, said, “If I’m the GM and I have the No. 1 pick, I’m taking Lawrence and I’m moving on from Sam. If they get the shot at Trevor Lawrence, they start anew, with a rejuvenated fan base; if I’m a Jets fan, I’m back in.’’

The one Lawrence dissenter to the move-on-from-Darnold group The Post spoke to among the ’96 Jets was former receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who, like Darnold, is a USC product.

“This whole notion that they need to get rid of Sam Darnold is crazy to me,’’ said Johnson, who now hosts a national radio show for ESPN. “He doesn’t have anybody to play with. I am not of the belief that Trevor Lawrence is the answer.’

[Paradis]

Before we started putting up Lawrence Tiger Beat posters, we need to see this miserable season through w/ Gase-gate. 

In some alternate universe where the gods favor the Jets and we land Lawrence - keep Sam. Make 'em compete. Brees and Rivers. 

[section314]

1 minute ago, Paradis said:

Before we started putting up Lawrence Tiger Beat posters, we need to see this miserable season through w/ Gase-gate. 

In some alternate universe where the gods favor the Jets and we land Lawrence - keep Sam. Make 'em compete. Brees and Rivers. 

And when Sam beats him out, imagine the haul we can get for Trevor. Sorry, just had to feed the animals.?

[Jetsfan80]

41 minutes ago, Paradis said:

Before we started putting up Lawrence Tiger Beat posters, we need to see this miserable season through w/ Gase-gate. 

In some alternate universe where the gods favor the Jets and we land Lawrence - keep Sam. Make 'em compete. Brees and Rivers. 

I see no point to this.  Trade Darnold.  If Lawrence isn't ready to start Week 1, utilize a veteran bridge option. 

There's zero reason to keep Darnold around and then lose him for nothing as a FA.  He'd only serve to be a distraction for Lawrence and not be actual competition.  Even if Darnold somehow won the job (very unlikely) and performed well (equally unlikely), his midseason trade value wouldn't go up precipitously.  

[Paradis]

2 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

I see no point to this.  Trade Darnold.  If Lawrence isn't ready to start Week 1, utilize a veteran bridge option. 

There's zero reason to keep Darnold around and then lose him for nothing as a FA.  He'd only serve to be a distraction for Lawrence and not be actual competition.  Even if Darnold somehow won the job (very unlikely) and performed well (equally unlikely), his midseason trade value wouldn't go up precipitously.  

I disagree. If I was running the team, until Trevor is throwing up Ws, i'm not letting Sam go. Trade him? for what... No, I'm ok with Trevor having to out duel Sam and/or groom for a year. I don't feel the same way others do about needing to send the other guy packing and such. 

[jetstream23]

3 hours ago, Paradis said:

Before we started putting up Lawrence Tiger Beat posters, we need to see this miserable season through w/ Gase-gate. 

In some alternate universe where the gods favor the Jets and we land Lawrence - keep Sam. Make 'em compete. Brees and Rivers. 

 

That's a well-thought approach and not a knee-jerk reaction.  Who let you in here???

 

 

 

 

Don't you know what we do around here?

 

[jetstream23]

2 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

I see no point to this.  Trade Darnold.  If Lawrence isn't ready to start Week 1, utilize a veteran bridge option. 

There's zero reason to keep Darnold around and then lose him for nothing as a FA.

 

Darnold would be here for a 4th year (and potentially a 5th if the option is picked up).

 

Quote

He'd only serve to be a distraction for Lawrence and not be actual competition.  Even if Darnold somehow won the job (very unlikely) and performed well (equally unlikely), his midseason trade value wouldn't go up precipitously.  

 

If Lawrence would be distracted then he's not a franchise QB and we don't want him.

[Jet_Engine1]

Yeah. Let's keep sad sack Sam around to be ignored and teased by the other kids....lol. That'll be GREAT for the team.

 

Jesus christ, ******* Jets fans....

[ChuckkieB]

So Mickens and Green are authorities on QB's now?  Should have put that into practice more during their careers, no?  GTFOOH with this crap.  

[Jetsfan80]

14 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

 

Darnold would be here for a 4th year (and potentially a 5th if the option is picked up).

 

 

If Lawrence would be distracted then he's not a franchise QB and we don't want him.

 

Picking up the 5th year option would cost over $25M.  Not happening.

And I thought you folks were all about building around a QB properly?  Endless excuses have been made for Darnold's lack of mental strength but somehow it would be a good idea for the next young QB to have Darnold stick around while Lawrence takes his job from him.  Good call.

[UnknownJetFan]

28 minutes ago, Paradis said:

I disagree. If I was running the team, until Trevor is throwing up Ws, i'm not letting Sam go. Trade him? for what... No, I'm ok with Trevor having to out duel Sam and/or groom for a year. I don't feel the same way others do about needing to send the other guy packing and such. 

Well as you and other say, keep piling up QB prospects till you get one that play consistently and great. Only way possibly trading Darnold prior to picking any QB in this draft would be for a pretty good draft haul like a number 1 and something else and nobody would likely tr5ade that much at this point.

[slimjasi]

25 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

 

Darnold would be here for a 4th year (and potentially a 5th if the option is picked up).

 

 

If Lawrence would be distracted then he's not a franchise QB and we don't want him.

I love the idea of keeping Sam around in theory, but I don't think it works well in practice. 

[JTJet]

Who cares what hobbled old players think, hey I found this in the newspaper today too..

[TuscanyTile2]

4 hours ago, joewilly12 said:

Ex-Jets ready to give up on Sam Darnold for Trevor Lawrence

By Mark Cannizzaro

October 16, 2020 | 2:14am

 

The consensus among the players who played on the 1996 Jets who went 1-15 on what the 2020 Jets, who are on a potential track to finish 0-16 and get the No. 1-overall draft pick, is that it’s time for a change at quarterback — if they can land Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

The former players say if the Jets earn the No. 1 pick and have a chance to draft Lawrence, it’s a no-brainer: Take him and move on from Sam Darnold.

“I’m going to be real with you: I don’t think Darnold is the one,’’ former cornerback Ray Mickens told The Post. “I think the Jets need to do everything they can to get Trevor Lawrence. True franchise quarterbacks don’t come around but like once in a decade. Trevor Lawrence is the next guy — a franchise-changing quarterback.’’

Mickens, whose son, RJ, is a freshman at Clemson, and former Jets safety Victor Green, who has known Lawrence since the quarterback’s high school days, are close to the situation.

Both believe Lawrence can turn around the Jets.

 

“You’ve got to take that guy,’’ Mickens said. “When you talk about a guy like [coach Bill] Parcells coming in to change the program [from ’96], there ain’t no other coach out there like Parcells that’s going to change the Jets program. You’re going to need a player to change it. Whatever coach that comes in there, if you don’t have that quarterback, it ain’t going to matter.’’

 

Green’s son Elijah was on the Blessed Trinity high school team that handed Lawrence his second and last high school defeat (Lawrence has just one loss in two-plus seasons at Clemson), in 2017, and is now at North Carolina.

“We beat Trevor Lawrence here in the high school state title; that was his only loss,’’ Green said. “I had to scout him because I was coaching DBs at the time at my son’s high school team and I said back then, ‘This dude is going to be the first-overall pick.’ That was when he was in high school. So, I’ve known about this kid for a long time and I’m a pretty good judge of personnel, and look where he is. He will be the first pick. If this Jets team goes 0-16, they’ve got to take Trevor Lawrence.’’

Former linebacker Marvin Jones, the head coach of the Arena Football League’s Omaha Beef for the past three years, said, “Sam Darnold is damaged good right now. … It’s going to be hard for him to turn his career around.’’

Former Jets linebacker Chad Cascadden, who serves as a Jets analyst on SNY, said, “If I’m the GM and I have the No. 1 pick, I’m taking Lawrence and I’m moving on from Sam. If they get the shot at Trevor Lawrence, they start anew, with a rejuvenated fan base; if I’m a Jets fan, I’m back in.’’

The one Lawrence dissenter to the move-on-from-Darnold group The Post spoke to among the ’96 Jets was former receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who, like Darnold, is a USC product.

“This whole notion that they need to get rid of Sam Darnold is crazy to me,’’ said Johnson, who now hosts a national radio show for ESPN. “He doesn’t have anybody to play with. I am not of the belief that Trevor Lawrence is the answer.’

"Way to have our back, Keyshawn!"

_{(Bart Scott voice for those not sure what this refers to)}

[jetstream23]

11 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said:

 

Picking up the 5th year option would cost over $25M.  Not happening.

And I thought you folks were all about building around a QB properly?  Endless excuses have been made for Darnold's lack of mental strength but somehow it would be a good idea for the next young QB to have Darnold stick around while Lawrence takes his job from him.  Good call.

Who are "you folks"? lol  And please show me where I made an excuse for "Darnold's lack of mental strength," whatever that means.

Why not have a lease with an option to buy on the most important position on the football field?  The Jets have failed over and over at QB for decades.  Having optionality is a good thing IMO.

[joewilly12]

10 minutes ago, JTJet said:

Who cares what hobbled old players think, hey I found this in the newspaper today too..

Who cares what you think, I think former players opinions are far greater than yours. 

[Jetsfan80]

2 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

Who are "you folks"? lol  And please show me where I made an excuse for "Darnold's lack of mental strength," whatever that means.

Why not have a lease with an option to buy on the most important position on the football field?  The Jets have failed over and over at QB for decades.  Having optionality is a good thing IMO.

 

If Lawrence is picked, he's the guy.  There's 0 chance Darnold is beating him out and forcing a trade of Lawrence.  We'd then have Lawrence under team control for 5 years, 4 of them cheap. 

Meanwhile we'd lose Darnold for nothing after the 2021 season.  Not a good option for a team devoid of talent.

[slimjasi]

1 minute ago, Jetsfan80 said:

 

If Lawrence is picked, he's the guy.  There's 0 chance Darnold is beating him out and forcing a trade of Lawrence.  We'd then have Lawrence under team control for 5 years, 4 of them cheap. 

Meanwhile we'd lose Darnold for nothing after the 2021 season.  Not a good option for a team devoid of talent.

Only way I could see it happening is if Lawrence suffered some freak injury in camp and Darnold all of a sudden looked like a stud.

But the Jets wouldn't hang onto Darnold long enough for this (very unlikely) scenario to play out. If the Jets actually do earn the number 1 pick, I would expect Darnold to be moved before the draft. 

[jetstream23]

2 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said:

 

If Lawrence is picked, he's the guy.  There's 0 chance Darnold is beating him out and forcing a trade of Lawrence.  We'd then have Lawrence under team control for 5 years, 4 of them cheap. 

Meanwhile we'd lose Darnold for nothing after the 2021 season.  Not a good option for a team devoid of talent.

What team would trade for Darnold and why?

[JTJet]

5 minutes ago, joewilly12 said:

Who cares what you think, I think former players opinions are far greater than yours. 

Think what you want. I bet none of those guys even watches any of the Jets current games, probably just spouting what they see on the recaps. 

[Jetsfan80]

4 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

What team would trade for Darnold and why?

100 % of the Darnold supporters think he'll do well elsewhere.  That he's "fixable".  One of the 31 other GM's will agree with that assessment and that he can be salvaged.  There are numerous teams who would trade for a former 1st round QB.  The Dolphins gave up a 2 and a 5 for Rosen.

My guess is a team like New Orleans, Indy, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or San Francisco could be among the interested teams for something like a 2nd or 3rd round pick.  Maybe more.  Douglas has made a couple nice deals happen so I'd of course trust his judgment there.  

[slimjasi]

8 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

What team would trade for Darnold and why?

I think there will be plenty of teams interested in taking a flyer on Darnold. The selling points are easy to me - He's 23 (younger than Burrow, Haskins, Jones, etc.) and was probably put into as bad of a situation as any big QB prospect has been put into in a long time (Mac built roster, bottom 2-3 offensive line for the first two years of his career, bottom 5 WR group, etc.)

The other thing to keep in mind is that, according to Charlie Casserly, about 2/3 of the GMs in the league had Darnold rated as the top QB coming out in 2018. (Interestingly, it was recently reported that Joe Douglas had Darnold as his top QB in 2018, even though the Eagles weren't in a position to take a QB that year). 

I guarantee that a few of the GMs who liked Darnold coming out of college will think to themselves "The Jets f*cked this up, as usual. We can develop this guy." 

[Scott Dierking]

Ray Mickens? Ray Mickens wouldn't know a great QB even if that qb had him bite hard on an out and go.

[The Crusher]

@slats Can you please ban me in between margaritas and stunning sunsets? Thanks. 

[slats]

1 hour ago, The Crusher said:

@slats Can you please ban me in between margaritas and stunning sunsets? Thanks. 

Ordinarily, anything to help you out, amigo. Unfortunately, on this one, @Maxman won’t let me. 

[BornJetsFan1983]

6 hours ago, joewilly12 said:

Ex-Jets ready to give up on Sam Darnold for Trevor Lawrence

By Mark Cannizzaro

October 16, 2020 | 2:14am

 

The consensus among the players who played on the 1996 Jets who went 1-15 on what the 2020 Jets, who are on a potential track to finish 0-16 and get the No. 1-overall draft pick, is that it’s time for a change at quarterback — if they can land Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

The former players say if the Jets earn the No. 1 pick and have a chance to draft Lawrence, it’s a no-brainer: Take him and move on from Sam Darnold.

“I’m going to be real with you: I don’t think Darnold is the one,’’ former cornerback Ray Mickens told The Post. “I think the Jets need to do everything they can to get Trevor Lawrence. True franchise quarterbacks don’t come around but like once in a decade. Trevor Lawrence is the next guy — a franchise-changing quarterback.’’

Mickens, whose son, RJ, is a freshman at Clemson, and former Jets safety Victor Green, who has known Lawrence since the quarterback’s high school days, are close to the situation.

Both believe Lawrence can turn around the Jets.

 

“You’ve got to take that guy,’’ Mickens said. “When you talk about a guy like [coach Bill] Parcells coming in to change the program [from ’96], there ain’t no other coach out there like Parcells that’s going to change the Jets program. You’re going to need a player to change it. Whatever coach that comes in there, if you don’t have that quarterback, it ain’t going to matter.’’

 

Green’s son Elijah was on the Blessed Trinity high school team that handed Lawrence his second and last high school defeat (Lawrence has just one loss in two-plus seasons at Clemson), in 2017, and is now at North Carolina.

“We beat Trevor Lawrence here in the high school state title; that was his only loss,’’ Green said. “I had to scout him because I was coaching DBs at the time at my son’s high school team and I said back then, ‘This dude is going to be the first-overall pick.’ That was when he was in high school. So, I’ve known about this kid for a long time and I’m a pretty good judge of personnel, and look where he is. He will be the first pick. If this Jets team goes 0-16, they’ve got to take Trevor Lawrence.’’

Former linebacker Marvin Jones, the head coach of the Arena Football League’s Omaha Beef for the past three years, said, “Sam Darnold is damaged good right now. … It’s going to be hard for him to turn his career around.’’

Former Jets linebacker Chad Cascadden, who serves as a Jets analyst on SNY, said, “If I’m the GM and I have the No. 1 pick, I’m taking Lawrence and I’m moving on from Sam. If they get the shot at Trevor Lawrence, they start anew, with a rejuvenated fan base; if I’m a Jets fan, I’m back in.’’

The one Lawrence dissenter to the move-on-from-Darnold group The Post spoke to among the ’96 Jets was former receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who, like Darnold, is a USC product.

“This whole notion that they need to get rid of Sam Darnold is crazy to me,’’ said Johnson, who now hosts a national radio show for ESPN. “He doesn’t have anybody to play with. I am not of the belief that Trevor Lawrence is the answer.’

I don't blame them it is hard to see Darnold as anything good with what Gase has done to him, it has been along time where we got to see him play under bowles and show promise...the few and far in-between plays darnold has been able to run in gase terrible offense doesn't really make him shine. 

I definitely understand the wanting to move on, but I think in the most Jetsyness of ways, that we will not be picking first and miss out on him, somehow gase will find a way to screw us. 

[Losmeister]

1 hour ago, Jetsfan80 said:

100 % of the Darnold supporters think he'll do well elsewhere.  That he's "fixable".  One of the 31 other GM's will agree with that assessment and that he can be salvaged.  There are numerous teams who would trade for a former 1st round QB.  The Dolphins gave up a 2 and a 5 for Rosen.

My guess is a team like New Orleans, Indy, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or San Francisco could be among the interested teams for something like a 2nd or 3rd round pick.  Maybe more.  Douglas has made a couple nice deals happen so I'd of course trust his judgment there.  

I get the feeling that JD still wants to see more... even maybe next year...

[Greensleeves]

1 hour ago, Scott Dierking said:

Ray Mickens? Ray Mickens wouldn't know a great QB even if that qb had him bite hard on an out and go.

Yeah, they lost me when they said there was no great coach out there. There's a ton of coaches that could end up being great in the NFL that just need a chance. It makes me cringe when people put Parcells on a pedestal. IMO he did more to hurt the Jets than help them. We would have had Peyton Manning for 20 freakin' years if it wasn't for his arrogance. We also would still have Bellichek if he wasn't unbearable to work with. He cost us Manning and Bellicheck. Great job Bill!

[The Crusher]

22 minutes ago, slats said:

Ordinarily, anything to help you out, amigo. Unfortunately, on this one, @Maxman won’t let me. 

OMG, did you even ask? 

[jetstream23]

1 hour ago, Jetsfan80 said:

100 % of the Darnold supporters think he'll do well elsewhere.  That he's "fixable".  One of the 31 other GM's will agree with that assessment and that he can be salvaged.  There are numerous teams who would trade for a former 1st round QB.  The Dolphins gave up a 2 and a 5 for Rosen.

My guess is a team like New Orleans, Indy, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or San Francisco could be among the interested teams for something like a 2nd or 3rd round pick.  Maybe more.  Douglas has made a couple nice deals happen so I'd of course trust his judgment there.  

I think I would trust Douglas too.  His record has been spotty so far but on the trade front he's executed well in terms of return value IMO (thinking Leo, Adams).  The real question to me would be if someone like a Sean Payton in New Orleans thinks Darnold is worth a 2nd round pick (or more) what are the Jets continuing to miss?  I trust the ability of guys like that far more than Gase or even Douglas at this point.  There are currently 3 former QBs of either Gase or the Jets starting in the NFL right now (Bridgewater, Fitzpatrick, Tannehill) with a combined record of 9-5.  Average to slightly better than average players who failed here or under Gase but are succeeding elsewhere.  I'm not particularly keen to add Darnold to that list, a player who IMO has higher upside than all 3 of them.

[Spoot-Face]

2 hours ago, slimjasi said:

I think there will be plenty of teams interested in taking a flyer on Darnold. The selling points are easy to me - He's 23 (younger than Burrow, Haskins, Jones, etc.) and was probably put into as bad of a situation as any big QB prospect has been put into in a long time (Mac built roster, bottom 2-3 offensive line for the first two years of his career, bottom 5 WR group, etc.)

The other thing to keep in mind is that, according to Charlie Casserly, about 2/3 of the GMs in the league had Darnold rated as the top QB coming out in 2018. (Interestingly, it was recently reported that Joe Douglas had Darnold as his top QB in 2018, even though the Eagles weren't in a position to take a QB that year). 

I guarantee that a few of the GMs who liked Darnold coming out of college will think to themselves "The Jets f*cked this up, as usual. We can develop this guy." 

You lost me at "according to Charlie Casserly".

[jetstream23]

2 hours ago, slimjasi said:

I think there will be plenty of teams interested in taking a flyer on Darnold. The selling points are easy to me - He's 23 (younger than Burrow, Haskins, Jones, etc.) and was probably put into as bad of a situation as any big QB prospect has been put into in a long time (Mac built roster, bottom 2-3 offensive line for the first two years of his career, bottom 5 WR group, etc.)

The other thing to keep in mind is that, according to Charlie Casserly, about 2/3 of the GMs in the league had Darnold rated as the top QB coming out in 2018. (Interestingly, it was recently reported that Joe Douglas had Darnold as his top QB in 2018, even though the Eagles weren't in a position to take a QB that year). 

I guarantee that a few of the GMs who liked Darnold coming out of college will think to themselves "The Jets f*cked this up, as usual. We can develop this guy." 

 

It sounds to me like you're describing a pretty good QB prospect who, with the right coaching and roster around him would succeed.  So, essentially the Jets should get rid of what might be good just because everything around him is bad?  And, we should put another good QB prospect into the same situation but expect that guy to improve the team more than just marginally because (even though we haven't seen him play in the NFL yet) we know that he would be orders of magnitude better than what we have?

[Losmeister]

thesitu, currently, may not be what it lookslike 3 weeks from now...  sure we're likely 0-8...

but if the OL is playing better, and Mims and Smyth and Perriwinkle are playing... at least we'll get a look at what we were SUPPOSED to get a look at b4 all the injuries.

Crowda is already a top 5 slot WR....but Sambone cant LOCK on him SO MUCH

 

OL currently 19/23 at run/pass per FO....we ended last year at 31 and 30 I think...  so we've moved a notch....  

[#27TheDominator]

I'm shocked.  The Clemson guys all like Lawrence and the USC guy likes Darnold.  Earth shattering.  Victor Green is such "a pretty good judge of personnel" that he is scouting high school games.  

As for trading Sam Darnold, I think that depends on what you can get.  He is still fairly cheap.  If you can get a decent haul you take it, but I have nothing against having him compete either.  Brees didn't exactly light it up his first 3 seasons either. 10-17 with 28:31 TD:INT.  Darnold is 11-19 and 39:32.  OTOH, we don't want to end up like the Chargers did, getting nothing for Brees, or the Redskins getting nothing for Cousins.  

[slimjasi]

40 minutes ago, jetstream23 said:

 

It sounds to me like you're describing a pretty good QB prospect who, with the right coaching and roster around him would succeed.  So, essentially the Jets should get rid of what might be good just because everything around him is bad?  And, we should put another good QB prospect into the same situation but expect that guy to improve the team more than just marginally because (even though we haven't seen him play in the NFL yet) we know that he would be orders of magnitude better than what we have?

I hear you, but there are three big reasons why taking Lawrence and moving on from Sam makes sense:

1) Economics - Sam on his 4th year of his rookie deal vs. Trevor on his 1st year of his rookie deal. 

2) All conventional wisdom says that Lawrence is a better prospect than Darnold is/was, and furthermore, that he's the best QB prospect since at least Luck. I'm not going to pretend to know that Lawrence will be great and I have routinely stated by skepticism for his sort of hype in general, but it currently sounds like no team that has a chance of earning the top pick will even consider passing on Lawrence. Meanwhile, two teams had no problem passing on Darnold back in 2018. 

3) As big of a Darnold supporter as I am and as much as I genuinely believe he will turn into a good QB in the right situation, he just hasn't proven anything here. I can't say that I know that he will ever turn into a franchise QB. So, assuming the Jets agree with the conventional wisdom that Lawrence is as good as QB prospects get, why wouldn't they just take him?