NGT - QB's Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield -

[sxdxca38]

Sam Darnold's projected numbers this year

67% 4182 Yards 33 TD 14 Int 102.5 RTG

Baker Mayfield's projected numbers this year
 
70% 4298 Yards 35 TD 16 Int 101.3 RTG

Both of these QB's were high 1st round draft picks.

It took about sixty starts for both of them to finally emerge as franchise guys.

The Jets and Browns both drafted the right guys, but they became too impatient and got rid of them, not giving them enough time to blossom and mature into what they would be today.

I'm sure both the Jets and Browns regret their decision.

If the Giants are able to draft a new QB this year, hopefully Sanders, then I hope we as Giant fans don't become too impatient with him but allow whoever the new QB is time to blossom and mature to see if he will emerge as the next franchise guy.






 

[DaveBrown74]

Hi SXD,

Would you say the Steelers were too impatient with Kenny Pickett?

How about the Cardinals with Josh Rosen?

Were the Giants appropriately patient with Jones, or should they have parted ways sooner?

[sxdxca38]

Hi SXD,

Would you say the Steelers were too impatient with Kenny Pickett?

How about the Cardinals with Josh Rosen?

Were the Giants appropriately patient with Jones, or should they have parted ways sooner?

Hi Dave,

Good counter questions.

Kenny Pickett was drafted with the 20th pick overall late in the 1st round, whereas Mayfield was the #1 pick in 2018, and Darnold was the 2nd overall pick in the same year, big difference.

Mayfield and Darnold were highly touted QBs prior to the draft, Pickett was never in that same class.

With regards to Rosen, the Cardinals had the #1 pick the following year and took Murray the overall consensus #1.

Rosen had been noted for being lazy and not putting the time in.

The Steelers and Cardinals made the right move, whereas the Jets and Browns did not.

Mayfield definitely had some promising years there and should have been given more time to mature.

[Jersey Heel]

Sam Darnold's projected numbers this year

67% 4182 Yards 33 TD 14 Int 102.5 RTG

Baker Mayfield's projected numbers this year
 
70% 4298 Yards 35 TD 16 Int 101.3 RTG

Both of these QB's were high 1st round draft picks.

It took about sixty starts for both of them to finally emerge as franchise guys.

The Jets and Browns both drafted the right guys, but they became too impatient and got rid of them, not giving them enough time to blossom and mature into what they would be today.

I'm sure both the Jets and Browns regret their decision.

If the Giants are able to draft a new QB this year, hopefully Sanders, then I hope we as Giant fans don't become too impatient with him but allow whoever the new QB is time to blossom and mature to see if he will emerge as the next franchise guy.






 

It's often the change of scenery that helps players revitalize their careers. If Darnold stays a Jet, I think he still sucks. Baker had a decent career with the Browns, but bouncing around a bit seemed to light a fire under his ass.

[sxdxca38]

It's often the change of scenery that helps players revitalize their careers. If Darnold stays a Jet, I think he still sucks. Baker had a decent career with the Browns, but bouncing around a bit seemed to light a fire under his ass.

Haha light a fire under his ***, funny stuff.

May I ask why do you say Darnold would still suck if he was on the Jets?

and if they were to sign him right now, would he be a better QB now? then before?

[Jersey Heel]

Haha light a fire under his ***, funny stuff.

May I ask why do you say Darnold would still suck if he was on the Jets?

and if they were to sign him right now, would he be a better QB now? then before?

I just think situations can become toxic. The fans turn on you. The coaches get frustrated with you. The media calls you a bust. Sometimes, you just need to start over.

[BlueMoshik]

Mayfield and Darnold were both drafted into terrible situations with terrible teams.

That's part of the risk of being drafted high; teams are in that position not only because they lost a lot of games but often because they are basket cases and are the worst possible places for a young QB to land.

I always thought highly of both of them and was fairly certain they could do well with the right coaching and support. And here we are with both of them now.

The Giants on the other hand drafted a so-so player in Jones and were too patient with him. He only had 2 and a half good seasons, never really progressed, and when he performed well it was in tandem with Saquon Barkley, who of course the Giants, in their infinite wisdom, let go to the fricking Eagles.

Last year, when Jones got hurt and seemed unlikely to come back in full form, they could and should have signed Darnold or Mayfield for cheap. But no, Schoen and Daboll decided that Jones was their QB, they let Barkley walk, and signed Lock who can never be more than a backup.

Now the Giants have no choice but to draft a QB if they are drafting #1 or #2, which seems likely.

I can't wait to see what dumbass moves the team makes this coming offseason.

 

[MightyGiants]

Mayfield and Darnold were both drafted into terrible situations with terrible teams.

That's part of the risk of being drafted high; teams are in that position not only because they lost a lot of games but often because they are basket cases and are the worst possible places for a young QB to land.

I always thought highly of both of them and was fairly certain they could do well with the right coaching and support. And here we are with both of them now.

The Giants on the other hand drafted a so-so player in Jones and were too patient with him. He only had 2 and a half good seasons, never really progressed, and when he performed well it was in tandem with Saquon Barkley, who of course the Giants, in their infinite wisdom, let go to the fricking Eagles.

Last year, when Jones got hurt and seemed unlikely to come back in full form, they could and should have signed Darnold or Mayfield for cheap. But no, Schoen and Daboll decided that Jones was their QB, they let Barkley walk, and signed Lock who can never be more than a backup.

Now the Giants have no choice but to draft a QB if they are drafting #1 or #2, which seems likely.

I can't wait to see what dumbass moves the team makes this coming offseason.

 

It's fair to say that Daniel Jones was also drafted into a terrible situation and to a terrible team.

[Philosophers]

Why is it that when a player all of a sudden succeeds after multiple failures it's because he did something magical and nothing else?

Maybe the scheme helped or the head coach or position coach to player relationship helped, the talent around him, or some other myriad of factors.

Part of the reason DJ went to the Vikings is possibly due to Darnold's success and maybe Coach's affect on him or the veterans there.

[Ed Vette]

I would give them more than 3/4 of a season after 6 years of floundering to anoint their careers resurrected. They're both having great seasons but let's see them in crunch time or with suboptimal teams. I put Darnold on the Giants and he may have been a turnover machine and Mayfield running for his life. I site Cousins as an example of a good QB with Jekyll and Hyde performances. Cousins will never take a team all the way. D&M still have a lot to prove.

I do agree and have said that the success of a QB can depend on where they land. Sometimes they can resurrect their careers and sometimes either the ability was never there or the damage was irreparable. It could be due to maturity or it just took a while for the lightbulb to turn on.

Drew Brees is a good example of how getting in the right situation can turn a career around. The Vikings are in a good situation for Darnold to shine. The Bucs need to keep winning and hope to catch the Commanders, but how they finish the season will determine Mayfield's comeback.

They are on the cusp of solidifying a role as Franchise QB or Transition QB. Baker has a two year out contract. Darnold is a hired gun.

[Ed Vette]

It's fair to say that Daniel Jones was also drafted into a terrible situation and to a terrible team.

Eleven hours. Sleeping on the job. Lol

[Philosophers]

I've said it before.  Maybe Dan Marino was Dan Marino because he was coached by a certain personality (Don Shula) who meshed with him but if he were coached by another personality type (Bill Parcells) he may not have become the QB he became.  Personality fits affect mental psyche which is a huge contributing factor to success.

[Philosophers]

A FA bridge QB who intrigues me is Justin Fields.  If we went after him in FA then drafted to improve other positions and made a decision on him vs drafting a QB in 2026, that seems reasonable to me given that the 2025 rookie QB crop is so volatile.

[uconnjack8]

When Baker was selected as the #1 overall pick, what I think I remember is a belief that there was limited upside.

I have watched him play a bit this year and love his passion and seeing the way he plays the game, but I still think that his ceiling is a bit lower than the elite QBs and a credit to him for reaching what I think is that ceiling. 

He is on pace to have his best season and top his 2020 campaign which saw the Browns go to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.  It was their first winning season since Derek Anderson led them to one in 2007.  Yes he was drafted into a mess of a team that had gone 1-31 in the two previous seasons.  They did add talent around him and had one of the most talented rosters in the NFL for a couple of years.  Not sure what caused his demise as their QB but the coach and the team managed 11 wins last season with 5 QBs getting starts over the course of the season. 

[uconnjack8]

A FA bridge QB who intrigues me is Justin Fields.  If we went after him in FA then drafted to improve other positions and made a decision on him vs drafting a QB in 2026, that seems reasonable to me given that the 2025 rookie QB crop is so volatile.

Assuming the Giants draft a QB in 2025, what is the purpose of the "bridge" QB?  I would assume it would be to help the rookie QB learn how to be an NFL QB.  And I don't see how a guy like Fields, who hasn't learned that yet himself can really help a rookie.  Personally, I am not a fan of Fields for a variety of reasons, but in terms of "bridge" I think you would want someone who has been around longer and isn't still trying to find their own way in the NFL.

Fields seems like a guy you would sign if you were hoping to find lightning in a bottle and hope things click for him for whatever reason.