I agree but not so much with that first paragraph. They did win 14 games last year so I don’t think it would have been a hard sell that they were expecting to contend. If anything, I think they would have opened themselves up to questions about mccarthy’s readiness had they resigned Darnold. Which, IMO, they would have totally been justified in doing since the guy missed the entire season. “Our plan was to have JJ start in 2025 but the injury changed things” I don’t think would have been a hard sell to the fans. Just my opinion. It would have helped if Darnold was merely average in those final two games instead of looking like the moment was way too big for him.