Sam Darnold was drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC. 100 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value
2018 NFL Draft · Rd 1, Pick 3 · #3 overall
Sam Darnold USC Draft
Sam Darnold was drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USC. 100 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value
2× Pro Bowl
- Overall pick
- #3
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 2018
- NFL games
- 100
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 4934th at USC
- Pro Bowls
- 2
The pick
How Sam Darnold came off the board in 2018.
- Position
- Quarterback QB
- College
-
USC
Pac-12 at the draft
- Measurables
- 6'3" · 221 lbs
- Hometown
- Capistrano Beach, CA
- Pre-draft board
- No. 4 prospect94.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
100 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value
- Games played
- 100
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 4934th among USC picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1429% of career value
- Final season
- 20257 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 2× Pro Bowl
Around pick 3
Who came off the board on either side of Sam Darnold.
Oklahoma · 2× Pro Bowl
Penn State · 1× All-Pro · 3× Pro Bowl
Ohio State · 5× Pro Bowl
NC State · 2× Pro Bowl
USC in the 2018 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other QB picks from USC
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Sam Darnold in the 2018 NFL Draft
Sam Darnold is a Quarterback out of USC selected No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. 100 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value USC has produced 252 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Sam Darnold drafted?
Sam Darnold was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft (Rd 1, Pick 3). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2018/sam-darnold.
What college did Sam Darnold play for?
Sam Darnold played college football at USC in the Pac-12. See every USC draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/usc-trojans.
How did Sam Darnold's NFL career turn out?
100 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 49 career approximate value Accolades: 2× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2018/sam-darnold.