New York Giants fans have endured years of waiting for Daniel Jones to fulfill his potential, but the payoff never came. Now, the team is preparing to take another swing at the quarterback position, with their options likely determined by the circumstances leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. One intriguing prospect is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who sparked speculation about his interest in joining the Giants by wearing customized cleats in the team’s colors during the Alamo Bowl. Sanders impressed in college, as did Miami’s Cam Ward, and both rookies could bring excitement and upside that free agents often lack—unless the free agent is already an established superstar.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold doesn’t fit that superstar mold, but he’s coming off an impressive 2024 season and is only 27 years old. With the Giants holding the third pick in the draft, they sit behind two quarterback-needy teams, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, meaning a rookie like Sanders or Ward might not be available. This has led analysts, including Benjamin Solak of ESPN, to list the Giants as serious contenders for Darnold. Solak argues that Darnold could be the best realistic option for the Giants, providing some stability alongside a rookie quarterback who carries inherent uncertainty.
“The Giants must have [a] viable free agent starter before the draft comes around in April. That isn’t Drew Lock, who is a free agent this offseason,” Solak wrote on January 28. “Will coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen—who have been informed by ownership that their jobs are in jeopardy—place their eggs in a Jarrett Stidham basket? Throw their lot in with Andy Dalton? Desperation should drive the Giants to the Darnold market. Darnold plus a highly drafted rookie passer would give Daboll and Schoen the most routes to a job-saving performance in 2025.”
Spotrac projects that Darnold’s next deal could exceed $40 million annually, with a four-year total of $160.5 million. While he brings his own set of uncertainties, pairing him with a top rookie could give the Giants the best chance to bounce back and keep Daboll and Schoen in their roles.
Leave a Reply