The Giants can certainly meet and assess Sam Darnold and their scouts can monitor how fast and strong he is, but they will not get to see him throw this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Darnold, considered by most, but not all, as the top quarterback in the draft, will not participate in the throwing portion of the combine, according to ESPN. Instead, Darnold will focus on the athletic testing that all players undergo and the many interviews with interested teams he is sure to get booked to attend.
Three of the top quarterback prospects — Josh Rosen of UCLA, Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma and Josh Allen of Wyoming — already committed to partake in the throwing session that will take place Saturday inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Lamar Jackson of Louisville has not yet made it public if he will throw.
Quarterbacks check in at the combine on Wednesday but do not hit the field until Saturday. They spend most of the week engaged in medical and psychological testing before showing off their actual football skills.
Darnold will wait until the USC Pro Day on March 21 to throw in front of what will be a bevy of NFL scouts. Some quarterbacks prefer this approach, showing their arm strength and accuracy amid familiar surroundings, throwing to familiar receivers.
The Giants have the No. 2 pick in the first round on April 26. New general manager Dave Gettleman and new head coach Pat Shurmur have put their trust in Eli Manning, entering his 15th season, as the starter for the 2018 season, and have Davis Webb entering his second year on the roster. There are no assurances, though, that the Giants will not take a quarterback with the second-overall pick, especially if they do not view Webb as a viable successor to Manning as the franchise quarterback.
The Browns own the No. 1 pick and are certainly in the running to select a quarterback. They also have the No. 4-overall pick. The Jets, picking No. 6, also could go for a quarterback if they do not come out on top in the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes.