Draft day ‘things I think’ about the New York Giants

Mostly, I think I’m glad we’ll know what will happen in a few hours

I know you are looking for things to keep you occupied until the New York Giants are on the clock Thursday night in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. So, how about delving into what is kicking around in my head with some pre-draft ‘things I think’?

Trading up for a QB

We know, or we think we know, that GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll would love to trade up to No. 3 to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. We also know, or think we know, that getting that third overall pick away from the New England Patriots is a longshot.

If a trade up for Maye does not happen I hope it is for one of two reasons:

1. The Patriots decide to stick and pick Maye.
2. The Giants make a competitive offer. The Patriots decide they like whatever the Minnesota Vikings are offering better.

What I hope does not happen is that Giants’ ownership decides not to allow Schoen to make the mega-offer to the Patriots it would take to get to No. 3. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported this week that such a deal was a “tough sell” to ownership after giving Daniel Jones a big contract a year ago.

John Mara said in the buildup to the draft that Schoen had the “green light” to get a quarterback if he wanted one. If, ultimately, ownership won’t let Schoen and Daboll try to get the quarterback they really want, shame on them.

If Schoen and Daboll make that move and it backfires, they will get fired in two years and fixing the Giants will be someone else’s problem. If they don’t get a quarterback and are still bad for the next, they will get fired anyway.

To be fair to the regime ownership put in place, if there is a guy they want my view is they have to be allowed to try and do whatever it takes to get that guy.

Sal Pal is smart

I have always thought the Giants needed to add a quarterback in this draft, whether they do it in Round 1 or take developmental flier later on. In my view, they need to have an option on the roster who could allow them to move on from Daniel Jones in 2025.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio added a layer to the QB/no QB discussion I had not thought of on ‘Talkin Ball’ with Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. He said:

“I do. I think they need to. I think they must. It’s not really about who the QB is in 2024. It’s about who is the starting QB of the New York Giants in 2025. It is their centennial anniversary. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. It’s the centennial anniversary to the Tiffany franchise of the National Football League. The one that is more closely associated with the Park Avenue headquarters than any other team is the New York Football Giants. So they have to make a statement about who their QB is going to be in 2025.”

What I think happens

I think the Giants are going to make a big offer to the Patriots (they have probably already made it). I think the Patriots are going to reject it. I also think New England rebuffs the Vikings, stays at No. 3 and picks Maye.

No. 1 (Bears) — Caleb Williams
No. 2 (Commanders) — Jayden Daniels
No. 3 (Patriots) — Maye
No. 4 (Cardinals) — Marvin Harrison Jr.

The draft gets interesting at No. 5, where I think the first trade happens with the Los Angeles Chargers moving down.

If the Giants are in on McCarthy (and everyone has a different thought on that) I wouldn’t be surprised by or object to a small move up to No. 5 to go get him. If they want the quarterback, they shouldn’t get cute. Just take him.

McCarthy suspects he could be a Giant:

If the Giants aren’t willing to move to guarantee getting McCarthy, they probably take a wide receiver at No. 6. Chalk says Malik Nabers of LSU. I say Rome Odunze of Washington.

One more thing

I think you need spend some time watching the livestream Nick Falato, Chris Pflum, Tony DelGenio and I did this morning. That’s here:

Enjoy Round 1 of the draft! Try to remember that whether you love what the Giants do or hate it whoever they pick is now a member of your favorite team, and you should root for/support that player.