New York Daily News

TROJAN WAR

Giants, Browns watch & woo Darnold, but keep true feelings on USC star secret

- Justin Pugh post ‘thank you’ farewell message to Giants fans NYDN.com/sports

After throwing at USC Pro Day, Sam Darnold says he’s met officially and been out to dinner with just two teams: Giants and Browns.

contingent and the fact the Giants took Darnold out to dinner would certainly seem to indicate they have some serious interest in the 20-year-old quarterbac­k, but it could all just be due diligence. The conversati­on about the Giants has shifted in recent days to Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, who would give the team the best chance to win next season paired with 37-yearold quarterbac­k Eli Manning. As the Daily News reported on Tuesday, the Giants have shown the most interest in Barkley out of any other team, but perhaps Darnold — who looked impressive in his workout on Wednesday — could sway the Giants away from Barkley. The only problem is that Darnold appears to be receiving the most interest from the Browns, who hold the first overall pick. The Browns had their heavy hitters on hand for Darnold’s Pro Day, which included owner Jimmy Haslam, GM John Dorsey and head coach Hue Jackson.

Dorsey’s attendance is extremely noteworthy because he did not attend the Pro Days of UCLA quarterbac­k Josh Rosen or Oklahoma quarterbac­k Baker Mayfield.

The Browns also plan to hold private workouts for Darnold and Wyoming quarterbac­k Josh Allen this week, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. They will be held in conjuction with the USC and Wyoming Pro Days, respective­ly.

While the Browns signed Tyrod Taylor and have dubbed him their starter for next season, they are in still in dire need of a franchise quarterbac­k and Darnold has said he is comfortabl­e in assuming a backup role his rookie season.

“I did that here and got to learn playbook in depth and got my reps in on the practice field,” he said. “I think that really showed my redshirt freshman year.”

The Giants, who also attended Rosen’s Pro Day, also held a private workout for the UCLA quarterbac­k on Tuesday, according to Fox Sports, and Big Blue is expected to attend Allen’s Pro Day on Friday.

AS SPECULATIO­N regarding who the Giants will take with the No. 2 pick ramps up, it might be time to seriously add Sam Darnold’s name to the mix.

The USC quarterbac­k said following his Pro Day on Wednesday, which was attended by all 32 teams, that the Giants and Browns are the only two teams he has had any official meetings with and both took him out to dinner earlier this week.

Although Darnold, seemingly like everyone else, cannot seem to put his finger on the Giants’ intentions.

“I’m trying to impress them and do what I can,” he said on ESPN’s NFL Live. “I don’t know their plan. They seemed very intrigued when we were having dinner and all that, but to be honest, I don’t know.”

Head coach Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinato­r Mike Shula and assistant GM Kevin Abrams were in attendance to watch Darnold throw in the rain at USC’s campus. He did not throw at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month.

The presence of the Shurmur-led

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 ?? AP ?? Sam Darnold gets USC Pro Day off and running with help from Southern Cal running back as rain can’t put damper on afternoon for the USC quarterbac­k, who is drawing interest from the Giants.
AP Sam Darnold gets USC Pro Day off and running with help from Southern Cal running back as rain can’t put damper on afternoon for the USC quarterbac­k, who is drawing interest from the Giants.

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