The New York Giants have a clear priority: finding a new quarterback. While they have talented players in other positions, their offense has struggled significantly, leaving a major gap at the quarterback spot. After a promising 2022 season, the Giants committed to Daniel Jones long-term, but his continued poor performance may lead to a change next season.
Currently sitting at a 2-6 record, the Giants are more focused on securing a top-five draft pick than contending for the playoffs. Their offensive struggles are evident; they have the second-fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL with just six and rank fourth-lowest in yards per play at 4.7.
Daniel Jones’s season has been inconsistent. Following a rough start against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, he showed improvement in September but fell off dramatically in October. Notably, he hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week 5 and has only two touchdowns since Week 4.
Given these challenges, it seems likely that the Giants will need to part ways with Jones and seek a new quarterback. They may aim to draft one in the upcoming draft, but if they decide to explore free agency, a potential target could be Sam Darnold.
Bleacher Report’s NFL scouting team has suggested Darnold, currently with the Minnesota Vikings, as a viable option. They note that if the Giants move on from Jones, bringing in a young, experienced free agent like Darnold could be an intriguing choice. Darnold will turn 28 in June and is having a strong season, showcasing his ability to handle the pressures of playing in New York.
Darnold has been a pleasant surprise this season, amassing 1,610 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions, helping the Vikings to a 5-2 record. After a rough start to his career with the New York Jets and a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers, he has found success as a starter for the Vikings following an injury to J.J. McCarthy.
The Giants could offer Darnold a similar deal to evaluate his performance while determining if he can sustain his success long-term. If they find themselves in a position where they can’t draft a top quarterback, Darnold could serve as a solid backup plan and would represent an upgrade over Jones.
With the current state of the team and Jones’s ongoing struggles, it’s unlikely the Giants will make a playoff push this season. A transition from Jones seems imminent, and it will be interesting to see if Darnold could step in as his successor next year.
