Long after the final joint practice between the New York Jets and Washington Redskins wrapped up, the quarterbacks kept chatting.
Apart from the on-field workouts, those moments gave Alex Smith a chance to get to know Jets rookie Sam Darnold a little bit. But rather than dole out advice from one high draft pick to another after 12 NFL seasons, Washington's veteran starter wants Darnold to chart his own path as a rookie.
"All these situations are different," Smith said. "He's got some good guys in his QB room to lean on that have played a lot of ball, so he certainly didn't need to hear me tell him anything. I think my rookie year's probably more of an example of what not to do as opposed to what to do."
Before he can potentially earn the Jets' starting job, Darnold could get the nod against Smith in the teams' next preseason game tonight. Coach Todd Bowles would only say, "All of our quarterbacks need to be ready to play," but Darnold took the majority of first-team snaps this week and impressed the Redskins.
Cornerback Josh Norman compared Darnold's decision-making skills to Philadelphia's Carson Wentz and Dallas' Dak Prescott and found out firsthand that Darnold doesn't throw like a rookie.
Fully aware of his early age, Darnold wants to be faster at calling plays and breaking the huddle. Bowles wants to see the USC product catch up on the playbook and knows the best experience comes from game action.
Darnold, the third overall pick, actually looks a lot like Smith after the 49ers took him first in the 2005 draft. But it's not on Smith to tutor Darnold; that's up to veteran Jets Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater.
The 39-year-old McCown is competing with Darnold for the starting job but has nothing but nothing but positive early impressions.