NFL Draft Rumors: Giants Would Select Sam Darnold at No. 2, Not Josh Rosen

The New York Giants have the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL draft and seem to have narrowed down their options.

"Their top three choices are [Sam] Darnold, Saquon Barkley and Bradley Chubb," an NFL executive told Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media. "They are debating Barkley vs. Chubb, because they need an edge-rusher, but the scouts love Barkley."

Their potential decision to select a quarterback is perhaps most intriguing, with Darnold apparently standing out among a deep class at the position.

"If Darnold is available, they're taking Darnold," the NFL talent evaluator said. "They don't like [Josh] Rosen."

Darnold is considered the top quarterback in the class by Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, with Rosen at No. 3 behind Josh Allen.

Rosen's coach at UCLA, Jim Mora, said on Path to the Draft that he would pick Darnold first if he were in charge of the Cleveland Browns, who have the Nos. 1 and 4 picks, though he noted that was because of Darnold's fit and "blue-collar, gritty attitude," via Dan Parr of NFL.com.

Either player would be an interesting addition for the Giants, for whom Eli Manning has started all but one game since 2005. He was benched last season during New York's 3-13 campaign, however, and the organization could be looking for options beyond the 37-year-old.

That would signal a rebuild is on the way, whereas if the Giants drafted an impact player like Barkley or Chubb, it could help the team contend for the playoffs in 2018.

Though it's always difficult to trust rumors that come out as the draft approaches, these options match up with reported visits by prospects to New York.

Art Stapleton of the Record reported Thursday that Chubb was visiting the Giants and that Barkley, Rosen, Darnold, Allen and Baker Mayfield would visit them.