Green Dot Sports

Written By: Logan Farren with Green Dot Sports, Apr 29th, 2026.

Sam Darnold rewrote what it meant to be a “bust” in the NFL last season by winning the Super Bowl in Seattle. Darnold, once the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, showed quarterbacks around the league it’s not over until it’s over.

Sam got off to a rough start in a tough situation in New York when he took the helm as a rookie in 2018. He struggled with progressions and was quoted as “seeing ghosts.” As Sam Darnold found himself backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco in 2023, something inside him snapped. So, when he got the opportunity to start for the Minnesota Vikings after Kirk Cousins’ departure in the offseason of 2024, he never looked back.

The USC alum had his best season in his first year under center for the Vikings. He threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Darnold finished as a Pro Bowler, third in Comeback Player of the Year voting, and 10th in AP MVP voting. He then, in 2024, headed to Seattle and had another elite season that ended in the Seahawks winning their first Super Bowl since 2014.

So, who will be the next quarterback to follow the Sam Darnold trajectory? Who will defy all odds and previous notions about their game and character and become a Super Bowl champion, untouchable for the rest of time?

#1 Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

When Malik Willis was drafted in the third round with the 86th pick, he was never meant to be Tennessee’s long-term solution to their quarterback problem. In fact, in the 3 games Malik Willis started for the Titans in his time there, he didn’t perform all too impressively.

Willis was shipped to Green Bay for a 7th-round pick and sat behind Jordan Love for two seasons. When Love went through injuries that kept him off the field at times throughout the last two seasons, Willis shined. Malik Willis threw for 972 yards and 6 touchdowns during that time, and most importantly, had no turnovers.

The glimpses Willis showed in Green Bay were enough to get him a 3-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, a role in which he’s slated to start. Malik is finally going to get his chance with first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.

When you turn on the film of Malik Willis, you see a 2021 Jalen Hurts. Both quarterbacks, being 6’1″, 225 lbs, give them the ability to be very versatile. Willis is an elite runner and is always looking for more yards. Malik is a natural play extender who keeps his eyes downfield and knows when to throw it away. In the right system, Malik Willis could win a Super Bowl just like Sam Darnold or Jalen Hurts. He has the talent, size, and natural knack for winning. I’m interested to keep track of his improvement as he assumes the helm in Miami.

#2 Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

I believe Daniel Jones had his 2024 Darnold year last season, and if he’s anything like Sam Darnold, Jones could be due for a massive breakout in the 2026–27 season. After throwing for over 3,000 yards in 13 games last season for the Colts, Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles tear, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. As he aims to retake the field this season, one thing should be in mind: “Sam Darnold did it.”

Jones has followed a very similar career path to Sam Darnold thus far. Taken with the sixth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Duke Blue Devil had huge shoes to fill in New York, taking the starting job away from two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. But after only one season with a starting record above .500, many were quick to call Jones a failed experiment.

Daniel Jones jumped ship to Indianapolis to prove everyone wrong, that he wasn’t a failed experiment but a hidden gem. Jones had an extremely successful start with the Colts, throwing for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns in just 13 games. If he can bounce back from a devastating Achilles tear, Jones would have one of the greatest comeback stories of all time. He could make the “Darnold” jump very soon.

#3 Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers

Mac Jones is another likely quarterback to break out into surprise stardom. The Alabama All-American had his best season as a rookie with the New England Patriots in 2021. Jones threw for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns.

After Mac Jones finished as the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, he never grew into a franchise guy for the Patriots. Something Jones has openly shared was a major learning and development curve for him. Mac Jones understood and took responsibility for his mistakes in New England.

Well, after taking responsibility and signing with the Jaguars in 2024, Jones’ problems continued to follow him to Jacksonville, where Mac started 7 games, throwing 8 interceptions and 8 touchdowns, interceptions being Mac Jones’ biggest problem at the pro level. In just 57 games started in his career, Mac Jones has 50 interceptions, a number too high for a “reliable” quarterback in today’s NFL.

Last season, now with the 49ers, Jones showed promise of turning the page. In just 8 games started with San Fran, Jones threw for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns. In fact, this would’ve been Jones’ best statistical season had he started all 17 games for the Niners.

So, if Mac Jones can fix the turnover issues that have been haunting him since coming into the NFL, he could turn into the next bust-turned champion.

#4 Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings

The most intriguing, and my personal favorite case for the “Darnold” jump, is Kyler Murray. Murray finds himself in a fairly favorable position right now in Minnesota, alongside stars like wideout Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson. If the former number one overall pick can capitalize and win with the Vikings, he may find himself in a very similar spot to Sam Darnold currently.

Kyler Murray’s two biggest problems in his 7-year career thus far are injuries and not winning. You can’t solely blame a quarterback for injuries, so I’ll focus on his inability to win football games. In Kyler’s 87 starts in Arizona, he has a record of 38–48–1, which ranks in the bottom third of all active quarterbacks in win rate. Now, a lot of blame can be put on the Cardinals organization for not surrounding Murray with the pieces needed to win; however, when you spend the number 1 overall draft pick on a franchise quarterback, you expect wins in return.

Although Kyler Murray has never won a playoff game up until this point in his career, the hump he’s been waiting to get over could, and has to, happen this season if he wants any hope of being a late bloomer. Murray assumes a very talented offensive group in desperate need of a gunslinger in Minnesota. If he rises to the occasion, Murray may be in different conversations than anyone ever thought he’d be in after being labeled a failed experiment.

#5 Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

When Jacoby Brissett got the call to start for the Cardinals in year 10, he rose to the occasion. Through 12 games started with Arizona, Brissett had the best season of his career. In fact, in only 12 weeks, the 33-year-old finished 13th in passing yards in 2025 with 3,366 yards.

This resurgence came as a surprise to NFL fans because, as sad as it is to say, Brissett has been widely given up on. Prior to 2025, Jacoby had one other 3,000-yard season, and that came back in 2017, his first season in Indianapolis as a fill-in for an injured Andrew Luck. Brissett would get another chance in 2019 following Luck’s retirement but would never return to the same level of play.

After bouncing around the league for a few seasons, he’d find himself in Arizona backing up Kyler Murray. The only reason he got a real shot last season in the first place was because of Murray’s inability to win. Jacoby Brissett reinvented himself after getting his first real shot since 2019. He put himself on the map as a leading figure in this movement of rebirthed busts. Five years ago, if you told me any of these guys had a shot at a Super Bowl, I’d say you’re crazy. But as Sam Darnold has taught everyone, anything is possible.