Remember Victor Cruz? He knows where Sam Darnold should play football in 2025.
Former Super Bowl Champ Knows the Perfect Spot for Sam Darnold
Cruz played for the New York Giants from 2010 to 2016, and if he had a say, Darnold would quarterback his former team this September.
“I think he’s the perfect QB to go get,” Cruz said of Darnold recently. “You obviously have to pay him a little bit, but I think from a cap perspective, we can afford him. I think he could come in and then Arch Manning comes in. He doesn’t necessarily have to start right away. He can learn from a guy like Sam Darnold.”
Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, 36 total touchdowns, and a one-and-done playoff performance this season. While he could return to the purple team for a sequel, it’s more likely for Minnesota to roll with rookie passer J.J. McCarthy in 2025 than to pay Darnold between $35 and $50 million.
“Been through the gamut around the NFL, had successes and ups and downs. Has played in New York before and understands what it’s like to succeed and not succeed in a city like New York. He’s also seasoned now, so he can come in and make your team competitive and respectable because he understands how to play the game,” Cruz continued.
Ironically, the Vikings actually employ the Giants’ previous QB1, Daniel Jones, after New York parted ways with the veteran last November. If Darnold bolts to the Giants or a different team, Jones could fill “the Darnold role” in 2025, probably a similar contract in the ballpark of one year and $10 million — like Darnold in 2024. In that scenario, he’d back up the aforementioned McCarthy.
Cruz concluded, “He understands what it’s like to play in New York. He understands that he’s going to have bad games, but he’s going to power through it. I think he’ll be a great guy for someone like Arch to learn behind and really understand what it takes to be a professional in this league. He also has his two uncles to learn from Eli and Peyton as well.”
It’s also worth noting that Cruz seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion that Arch Manning, currently a quarterback at the University of Texas, will be drafted by the Giants in 2026. That’s a bit odd this far out but to each their own.
Other teams that could be a part of the Darnold sweepstakes? The Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams (if Matthew Stafford retires), to name a few.
Darnold could win the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year at the NFL’s award ceremony after receiving a nomination last week.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.