New York Giants 7-round mock draft 3.0, post-Combine

First-Round – USC QB Sam Darnold (Pick No. 2)

With Saquon Barkley and Josh Allen in play for the No. 1 overall pick, the Giants get arguably the best quarterback in this year’s draft in Sam Darnold.

Allen’s stock is on the rise after the NFL Scouting Combine, and there are reports the Cleveland Browns could select Barkley first overall. Either way, it could leave USC’s 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback on the board for Big Blue.

Every quarterback in this year’s class has question marks, but Darnold arguably has the best chance to succeed.

Allen has a cannon for an arm and checks all the physical boxes. But if he struggles with accuracy in the Mountain West Conference, how will he complete passes with tighter windows in the NFL?

Some would argue UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is more talented than Darnold. Leadership questions and his injury history would be the reason for New York to pass.

Darnold is far from perfect. He was expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after a breakout redshirt freshman year but didn’t live up to the high expectations in 2017. The Trojans quarterback struggled with turnovers, throwing 13 interceptions and losing nine fumbles.

Despite some questions marks with his decision-making, at least one AFC executive believes he has the best chance to succeed at the next level, via NFL Network.

"“I think he caught some backlash this year because of the pre-season hype and the interceptions. He’s still the most complete quarterback in this draft with the best makeup to be a good pro.”"

The Giants surely won’t hold it against Darnold for not throwing at the NFL Scouting Combine. His choice to not throw could be the reason he is still available at No. 2 overall.

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur addressed what he is looking for in the quarterback position in Indianapolis, via New York’s team website.

"“Well, you’re trying to look for all of the intangible things that a quarterback does. You want to try to determine whether he’s a good decision maker, whether he has a sense of timing. The tape tells you whether he’s an accurate passer or not. And then you just want to get a feel for, ‘hey, is this the guy that we want to lead our team?’ So some of it is subjective, some of it really just comes by getting to know the player.”"

Darnold checks two of those boxes. He’s a team leader and an accurate passer on tape. His decision-making is the biggest question mark. But Allen’s accuracy and decision-making are just as much in question, as is Rosen’s leadership qualities.

All three quarterbacks and Barkley have valid arguments to be Big Blue’s No. 2 overall pick. But it’s hard to imagine New York passing on Darnold if he’s still on the board.