Breaking: Vikings Former no.3 pick named potential QB replacement for Giants…….
Sam Darnold, a former third-overall selection pick, may be the New York Giants’ choice to replace Daniel Jones in 2025 due to his erratic play, extensive injury history, and complicated contract position.
It’s a concept that Dan Graziano of ESPN proposed. He thinks Jones’ replacement in March 2024 won’t be “bad enough to land a super-high draft pick, leaving them to assess free agent options” with the 2024 Giants.
Dak Prescott, the starter for the Dallas Cowboys, may be one of those choices “if he makes it to the market.” As an alternative, “Sam Darnold, a former New York Jets draft pick, could be brought back to New York by the Giants after he has a successful season in Minnesota and eventually loses out to J.J. McCarthy.”
With this year’s 10th pick, J.J. McCarthy, needing surgery to repair a torn meniscus, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve, giving Darnold plenty of opportunity to impress the Minnesota Vikings.
Graziano believes that the Giants’ “most likely outcome” would be to pursue a veteran, such as 2018 top-three pick Darnold. Given Jones’ past performance, finding a successor seems likely, but if the starter can maintain his health and replicate his 2022 career-best, then things might be different.
It’s also important to consider if Darnold would actually be a better option than Jones.
Samual Darnold Not Always an Improvement
Though he’s never lived up to his selection status, Darnold has fascinating physical tools. Rather, the former star player from BYU has struggled during his underwhelming stints with the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets.
With the Vikings, he has the opportunity to make amends, but history is not exactly on Darnold’s side. Especially when the NFL’s average completion rate over the past ten years is 63.9%, according to Warren Sharp of “Sharp Football Analysis.” Over the course of six seasons and 66 games, Sam Darnold NEVER had a season with even 62% completion percentage. His career average of 59.7% completion percentage ranks #47 out of 48 quarterbacks.
But Darnold’s issues haven’t been limited to efficiency and accuracy. Maintaining composure under duress has also been problematic.
One of Sam Darnold’s problems, according to Doug Farrar of Athlon Sports, is leaving the pocket when quarterback doesn’t have to. He becomes apprehensive, which hinders plays. On this stop route, he had tight end Johnny Mundt open for a score, but he didn’t seem to notice it.
Even while some of his well-known shortcomings have accompanied him to Minnesota, Darnold is making a strong case for himself in one area over Jones. specifically in terms of arm strength.
Justin Jefferson, an All-Pro wide receiver with the Vikings, has praised Darnold’s deep ball throwing abilities. During the “Scoop City” podcast, Jefferson described to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini how “the deep balls that he throws, it was right in the hands, and it feels like a soft pillow.”
Perhaps Darnold possesses the arm strength the Giants will someday long for in order to fully utilize Malik Nabers, this year’s first-round selection, and his big-play abilities. He’s a dynamic playmaker who can assist a true vertical threat like fellow wideout Jalin Hyatt reach his full potential.
Jones is given the tools he needs to improve as a thrower by Nabers and Hyatt. If he is unable to, the Giants will attempt to move past No. 8 once the ’24 season concludes.
Daniel Jones: Prove-It Year Jones must maintain his composure and safeguard the ball. When he took 30 sacks and threw six interceptions in 2023, he was unable to accomplish two things before an early season-ending neck injury and torn ACL ended his career.
