There have been rumors aplenty in the last few weeks claiming that the Giants are extremely interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so much so that they would be interested in trading up from the No. 6 overall pick. The rumors have had New York going in a lot of different directions with their trade up, and Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports has them going in another new direction with a focus on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. 
Only three days ago, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post projected a trade up for the Giants that saw them taking LSU passer Jayden Daniels. He also claimed to be hearing that New York was highest on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but his projection had the national championship winner being selected one pick before by the Commanders. As a result, he predicted that the Giants would settle for the Heisman winner.
Earlier today, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan also connected Daniels to New York, this time claiming that he was one of the team’s favorites to look out for. According to Raanan, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both believe the LSU passer would be “an ideal fit in their offense.” He also noted McCarthy as a name to watch, especially if he’s still available by the sixth pick, rendering a trade up unnecessary.
Vacchiano posed a different view just two days ago. Vacchiano, like the others, points out that the Giants could certainly be tempted to trade up for a quarterback, but he specifies that it would need to be the right quarterback. He claims that Maye is the man who fits the bill. Vacchiano posits that if the Bears and Commanders select USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Daniels or McCarthy with their respective picks, the Giants would jump on the opportunity to trade up for Maye.
Maye has long been viewed as the top draft option following the near-certain No. 1 overall pick, Williams. Daniels was the first to rise quickly up draft boards and challenge Maye for that No. 2 spot, followed shortly by McCarthy. Now most mocks have all four of the picks to the open the draft being used on quarterbacks.
The biggest issue with most of these scenarios is that they assume the Patriots will be willing to move back. Like the Bears, Commanders, and Giants, while New England is home to multiple potential starters at the quarterback position, many have labeled passer as a position of need for the Patriots. Veteran Jacoby Brissett, last year’s backup Bailey Zappe, and former Canadian Football League star Nathan Rourke all bring something to the table, but there are many in the league who still believe the team will use their top draft pick to bring in a new competitor to start under center.
Regardless, with the big day still two and a half weeks out, everything is subject to change. Within the course of three days, we’ve seen different sources claim that McCarthy, Maye, and Daniels were all the preferred options for the Giants to pursue in a trade up at different times. Though the muddy waters often tend to clear up the closer we get to the draft, this year may be the exception as the waters seem muddy as ever.
I think that this makes more sense for NYG than Daniels does, for reasons that I outlined in the “Daniels to New York” article. In my eyes, Daniels and Jones, while certainly different levels of prospects with different schools and vastly different accomplishments, have a few similar traits that may see Daniels experience similar challenges that Jones did/does.
Maye is a completely different quarterback, of course with a different set of challenges. If New York wants to move on from Jones, it seems that they’ll do so with a different style of player. A good deep ball, which Maye looks to offer more than does either Jones or Daniels, is one such distinguishing trait. Of course, this all is irrelevant if one or neither is available for the Giants at six. They just take whichever is available, or make another valid choice in selecting a high end receiver or lineman. Setting up Jones or whomever the next QB will be isn’t bad. Being an offensive coach, you’d think also that Daboll will be eager to run what we wants to at a high level after two years of inconsistency. The Giants’ struggles on offense have been with far more than simply their quarterback.
A good deep ball doesn’t matter if there’s nobody to catch that pass….haven’t the Giants had enough of North Carolina college QB’s with Jones….exactly who do they play that warrants a #1 for the Giants.
Jones went to Duke, but other than that …
Duke is in North Carolina… But other than that…
Haven’t the Giants had enough of American QBs…
I agree, which is what I alluded to at the end. Jones, Daniels, Maye…none of them fix the issue that the team has had terrible play from multiple positions on offense, not even considering the quarterback.
Does that mean that an upgrade is impossible? No. Does it mean that it would be the best choice? Possibly not. But there’s no guarantee that the QB would be an upgrade, either. He’ll get a year or two of rope, as Jones did, before people come for him. A better supporting cast would definitely make his job easier, whomever ends up there.
I’d say that the only reason to pick a guy now is if you consider him too important to wait on-in today’s NFL, that probably should be your attitude with the QB anyway, considering how long lived they are and how much the rules have changed for their benefit. I feel like most teams just pick a QB fir the sake if picking one, but a few teams build the right way, and then when they’re ready get stuck in a draft with lackluster prospects (the Jets and Wilson being an example). Is Maye or Daniels or someone else that guy? Maybe, maybe not. I suppose we’ll see if the Giants think so.
NY should draft a WR
Their problem is that Daniel Jones sucks. You have to get QB right before a WR makes much of a difference.
Josh Allen didn’t take off until he he had Diggs to throw to.
Daniel Jones also has not had many weapons, and you see how that’s turned out (not good). Can’t make the same mistake with a new QB. I would much rather they get a WR or even another OL instead of drafting another QB at 6. Jones had Saquon for some of his time, but aside from that, his best offensive weapon was Evan Engram, which is pathetic. Get a stud WR and you can get a QB next year (draft/trade/sign).
Assuming the Giants would have to trade up to get their guy, if indeed their guy is actually there after the first couple of picks, don’t disagree that you start building with a QB, but does Dabol have that kind of time table from Mara to actually to that….the Giants would have to trade a boatload of valuable high picks to trade up and they have way too many holes to take that chance….let the draft make the decision when the #6 comes up and maybe something uncalled for falls into their lap….otherwise, an impact WR is the way to go….
What if the trend line of colleges being unable to produce quality NFL QB’s continues to get worse and Joe Flacco plays forever?
Last time I checked every quality QB went to college
…right.
But not every college QB is quality.
And more and more, they are producing less and less. Way more high QB pick busts than previous eras. Likely to due to gimmicky offenses that don’t translate or prepare for the NFL.
Is it tho? Gimmicky offenses have been the rule of the land in college sports forever. Run and Gun, Pistol, Spread, RPO, wildcat, the list goes on and on. Some of those gimmicks turned out to be really good systems and revolutionized the game and the qb position.
I think the real reason you see so many qb busts lately is due to roster construction shifts. The new blueprint for success is getting a quality qb on a rookie contract. Teams are taking more fliers in the first round because of the fifth year option. Any second round grade qb will probably go in the first because the extra year of cost certainty is so valuable. Non qb salaries have skyrocketed and this trend is likely to continue. Miss and try again, rinse repeat
Another problem for QB’s drafted in the top 10, is the rosters are trash and they are put in a losing situation. It’s impossible to tell which QB will be a Mahomes’esque caliber QB. All 1st round graded QB’s get the ‘superstar in the making!’ from the media & teams while 90% are just regular QB’s. Both DC & NE will draft QB’s this year, right? Who is the NE guy going to throw to? Mac had no WR’s and a terrible line. That hasn’t changed this offseason. DC’s QB was the most sacked, where’s the OL help? Bad situations for the rookies right off the bat. David Carr syndrome. Get crushed your rookie year and all of a sudden you’re looking who is blitzing, not looking for WR’s.
I disagree w/ the myth of rookie contracts help. KC has won 2 SB’s w/ Mahomes making bank, Rams had an expensive Matt Stafford when they won it, same for TB the year before. SF lost to KC w/ expensive QB room….
No, a lot more college teams used to use pro style offenses.
Those gimmick offenses existed but used to be the exception and are now solidly the rule.
I agree the rookie deals has shortened the audition time, but no evidence any of these guys would have panned out with more time (maybe Fields can break that streak, but…).
I just think it’s too hard to translate from a gimmick offense against lesser talent to a pro offense against the world’s best and scouting is broken as a result. Development, as well.
Wildcat is an NFL thing. Pistol is a college formation that’s trickled down to the NFL. RPO works in the NFL with a QB like Lamar Jackson.
“Wildcat is an NFL thing.”
It’s named after a college team for a reason.
And things that work only when you have unique and exceptional talents who make them work are the definition of exception to the rule.
This is exactly why I hate the idea of expansion franchises, whether it be in America or Europe. There’s not enough talent for 32 franchises right now.
These articles are only going to get worse for the next couple weeks. Sigh
I’m probably in the minority, but I’d like Nabers or Alt. Preferably Alt and then work from there on who moves to RT, and move Neal inside to LG/RG. doesn’t matter who is out there if they only have 3 seconds to throw.
Recent history has proven one undeniable fact: building around a young QB cannot be argued; however, equally inarguable is the harm caused by not already having foundations like an OL, passing targets, and a backfield to keep Defenses “honest” … of course a competent OC/HC is requisite
Sure we can discount QB busts drafted in the Top 10 as overhyped by the media, but, let’s be objective, guys like Darnold, Fields, even Wilson (ugh, now I feel dirty) were put behind center in the NFL equivalent of “hazardous mission”
Confidence, psyche, whatever you want to call it, is hard to rebuild once it’s damaged.
I’m not saying tams need a stacked roster (see: Niners).
I’m saying: Joe Alt instead of a relative dart throw like Maye
@buck,
I agree with Alt. it won’t be the headline grabber, but it certainly allow for more positive headlines later.