The New York Giants are in the midst of a critical phase of their rebuilding process. After a season filled with growing pains, the Giants, led by head coach Brian Daboll, have begun to lay the foundation for future success. While many things are in flux, one position is of utmost importance: quarterback. Daniel Jones, despite signing a hefty contract extension in the offseason, remains a lightning rod for criticism as fans and analysts debate his future in New York.
In recent weeks, speculation has swirled around potential quarterback upgrades, with names like Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, and even Sam Darnold floating into the conversation. Darnold, once considered a future star in New York after being drafted by the Jets with the third overall pick in 2018, has been a highly scrutinized figure throughout his career. After stints with both the Jets and the Carolina Panthers, Darnold’s career has been marked by inconsistency and underperformance. With the Giants reportedly considering all options at quarterback, many have wondered if Darnold could be the answer. However, there are several compelling reasons why bringing in Sam Darnold doesn’t make sense for the Giants. Here are three of the biggest.
### 1. **Inconsistent Play Throughout His Career**
The most glaring reason why Sam Darnold doesn’t make sense for the Giants is his history of inconsistent play. Since entering the NFL in 2018, Darnold’s career has been marked by flashes of potential but marred by poor decisions, lackluster mechanics, and an inability to consistently perform at a high level. Darnold’s tenure with the New York Jets was riddled with turnover issues, bad habits, and an overall lack of development. He threw 39 interceptions in just three seasons with the Jets, showing a persistent issue with decision-making.
While a fresh start with the Carolina Panthers seemed like it could revitalize his career, Darnold’s time in Charlotte hasn’t been any better. Over the course of two seasons with the Panthers, he posted just 18 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. While Darnold has had a few decent performances, the lack of sustained success is a major red flag for any team looking for a long-term solution at quarterback. The Giants are in a position where they need stability at the most important position on the field, and Darnold simply hasn’t shown that he can provide that.
Daniel Jones, despite his own struggles, has shown far more improvement and consistency over the last few years than Darnold. Under the guidance of Brian Daboll, Jones has developed into a more reliable quarterback, improving his decision-making and managing games more effectively. Bringing in Darnold would reset the clock on the quarterback position again, and there’s no guarantee he’d offer any more success than Jones has. The Giants need a quarterback who can elevate the team, not another project who might only add to their instability.
### 2. **The Giants Are Not the Right Environment for Darnold’s Development**
One of the key issues with Darnold throughout his career has been his inability to develop in environments that have consistently failed to provide stability. His early years with the Jets were marred by coaching changes, a lack of offensive line protection, and an overall dysfunction within the organization. In Carolina, while the Panthers offered a better infrastructure than the Jets, Darnold still didn’t have the weapons or consistency to truly thrive. Despite having solid pieces like Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore, he struggled with turnovers and wasn’t able to show significant development.
While the Giants’ situation isn’t quite as dire as Darnold’s previous stops, it still isn’t the ideal place for a quarterback with his track record of inconsistent play. The Giants’ offensive line has been a point of contention for years, leaving quarterbacks with little time to throw and often placing them under pressure. While improvements have been made, particularly with the acquisition of left tackle Andrew Thomas, the line still has plenty of work to do. For a quarterback like Darnold, who has historically struggled under pressure and with making decisions in high-stress situations, the Giants’ offensive line may not be the ideal environment to help him turn things around.
Additionally, Darnold has never had the luxury of playing behind an elite offensive line or with a top-tier wide receiver corps. While the Giants have some promising young talent in receivers like Wan’Dale Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins, the passing game remains a work in progress, and their lack of depth and consistency at the position is an issue. Without a solid supporting cast, Darnold’s weaknesses are magnified. The Giants are still trying to build a more effective offense around Daniel Jones, and adding Darnold would not make much sense unless they’re prepared to make an even bigger commitment to developing him—something that would almost certainly delay their rebuilding process.
### 3. **Darnold Doesn’t Offer Long-Term Potential for the Giants**
Another reason why Sam Darnold doesn’t make sense for the Giants is that he doesn’t offer much in terms of long-term potential. The Giants are looking for stability and growth at the quarterback position, and Darnold is too far along in his career to be seen as a developmental project at this point. At 26 years old, Darnold is still young enough to theoretically improve, but after five years in the NFL, it’s becoming increasingly clear that his ceiling is lower than many initially expected.
If the Giants were to bring in Darnold, it would essentially be a lateral move at best. He doesn’t offer the upside that a younger quarterback, potentially through the draft, could provide. If the team is committed to building for the future, they need a quarterback who can grow with the roster and lead them through their upcoming competitive windows. This is why the Giants should continue to invest in Daniel Jones or, if they decide to move on, explore the draft for a new quarterback.
There’s also the fact that the Giants are in a situation where they need to make the right decisions to maximize their assets, particularly their draft picks. Trading for or signing Darnold would take up valuable cap space that could be used to bolster other areas of the roster, such as the offensive line, wide receiver, or defensive front. In a year where they are looking to continue building and reshaping their team, investing in a quarterback like Darnold who doesn’t offer long-term value would be a poor allocation of resources.
### The Giants Need a Better Fit
While Sam Darnold may get a second (or even third) chance to prove himself as a starting quarterback elsewhere, the Giants would be wise to avoid taking a gamble on a player whose career has been marked by inconsistency and underachievement. They are better off continuing to build around the pieces they already have, whether it’s further developing Daniel Jones or looking for a future franchise quarterback in the draft. The team’s long-term success will depend on finding a QB who can grow with the franchise and help them compete in the NFC East, and unfortunately, Sam Darnold doesn’t offer that.
The Giants need a quarterback who can elevate the team, not just fill a role for the short term. Whether it’s through the draft or a more established option, the Giants should look elsewhere for their next quarterback rather than betting on Darnold to solve their long-standing QB dilemma. With the right player at the helm, the Giants could make significant strides forward. But Sam Darnold, at this stage of his career, just isn’t the answer.
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