Eli Manning Makes Bold NFL MVP Prediction, Talks Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones

Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings leaves the field after beating the Green Bay Packers 27-25 (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

New York Giants great Eli Manning knows all about thriving under the pressure of playing in the biggest media market in the country.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist won two Super Bowls and did so against the best quarterback of all time in Tom Brady and the best dynasty in NFL history in the New England Patriots. However, not every quarterback is built to have that type of success.

Daniel Jones had some success in New York, helping lead the Giants to a surprise playoff appearance and an upset win over the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022 playoffs. That single-season performance earned him a four-year, $160 million deal and the status as a franchise quarterback for the Giants.

However, that success was short-lived with Jones eventually finding himself benched after going 3-13 over the past two seasons. Jones and the Giants both parted ways midway through the 2024 season with the former No. 6 pick latching on with the Vikings as a backup quarterback.

Manning – who himself was supplanted as the starting quarterback by Jones in 2019 – says it'll be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in Minnesota considering Sam Darnold isn't guaranteed to return next year as he hits free agency.

"We'll see what they have in mind for Daniel," says Manning in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of his partnership with Verizon. "It probably depends on what happens in these first couple of weeks in the playoffs."

Jones could find himself competing for the starting quarterback job with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy next year, if Darnold prices himself out of the Vikings' pay range. Darnold, himself a former 2019 first-round pick, has had the best season of his career while leading Minnesota to a surprising 14-3 season.

" It'll be an interesting situation to see what happens with Sam Darnold," says Manning.

"I'm excited for Sam. I've known Sam a long time since he was in college and obviously a situation where it work out here in New York with the Jets. He moved around, was a backup in different spots and worked his way into a position where he got the opportunity to play here in Minnesota and took full advantage of it."

While Darnold isn't being mentioned in the MVP conversation with the likes of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, he certainly has a resume that matches up with the two favorites. Along with his 14-3 record – the second-best mark in the NFL – the 26-year-old ranks in the top six in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating.

"Getting 14 wins, going into the playoffs, proud of his commitment, his desire and his work ethic through this process to get back and play at such a high level," says Manning. "Probably in the MVP talk this year of what a great season he had. Minnesota has to figure out what they're going to do with him next year: signing him back or letting him test the waters in free agency."

Bold NFL MVP Choice

Speaking of the MVP conversation, Allen is still considered the favorite with Jackson as the next betting favorite. It's clear that voters may lean towards the Buffalo Bills quarterback due to the Bills' strong season despite a weak offensive supporting cast and due to the fact that Allen has led two victories over the best teams in the league in the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions.

What also may help Allen's cause is that he's never won the MVP award before. In fact, he's never won a major award in his career despite being considered an elite quarterback over the past several years. That combined with voter fatigue for Jackson – who has won two MVP awards – may ultimately earn Allen his first MVP award.

However, Manning would go with Jackson as his pick for MVP.

Manning's former teammate, Saquon Barkley, has lost steam in the MVP race due to sitting out Week 18 and missing out on his opportunity in breaking Eric Dickerson's 40-year-old rushing record. However, he acknowledges that Barkley deserves serious consideration for the MVP award for having one of the seasons of all time.  

"I think Saquon should be in the mix," says Manning. "If he plays the last game of the regular season against the Giants, he breaks Eric Dickerson's rushing record. The fact that he's in the mix and close to breaking a rushing record that's been around for a long time in a pass-happy league where they're not rushing the ball as much as they used to, it's so impressive."

Manning – who teamed with Barkley during the running back's first two seasons in the league – calls him an "unbelievable" teammate and says he's "excited" to be going to the playoffs after making only one appearance as a member of the Giants.  

"He was an unbelievable teammate, honored to have played with him and happy for his success this year," says Barkley. "I know he's excited to be on a playoff team, going through the playoffs and definitely throwing his name in the mix [in the MVP conversation]."