Can GM Joe Schoen swing a deal to make it happen?
Multiple reports indicate that the New York Giants are trying to pry the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft away from the New England Patriots in an effort to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.
Jordan Ranaan and Dan Graziano of ESPN are both reporting that the Giants are hunting for Maye. Graziano said:
“A month ago, many in the league believed their favorite quarterback in the class was [J.J.] McCarthy. If that were true, things have changed. The rumblings early this week: The Giants’ guy is Maye.”
Here is more from Graziano, including what would turn out to be a shocking turn at No. 6 if it is what the Giants ultimately do:
“I’ve been told the Giants and Vikings are the two teams that have been most active in discussions with the Patriots about the No. 3 pick, and that if Washington takes Daniels at No. 2, the Giants would be very interested in trading up to No. 3 for Maye. I’ve also been told in recent days that the Giants like Penix and might even be willing to take him as high as No. 6. There’s a lot of chatter flying around, but what is clear is that the Giants have done significant work on the quarterbacks and are very open, if not desperate, to come out of Thursday night with one of them.”
Trading up for Maye would be pricey, but not stunning. It is not difficult to see the parallels, physically and in terms of their college scouting reports, between Maye and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
After working successfully in Buffalo to help turn Allen into one of the game’s best quarterbacks, it isn’t hard to imagine Giants head coach Brian Daboll believing he can have similar success with Maye.
The Giants, though, might not be able to make the move.
First, the Vikings have picks No. 11 and 23 in Round 1, potentially a 2025 first-round pick to offer, plus other assorted assets. The Giants have pick No. 6, but would be relying on the Patriots, or the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 and Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 as potential trade partners, to be reluctant to move out of the top 10.
Albert Breer of SI believes “the likelihood is New England doesn’t move the pick, and selects a quarterback.”
There might be another complicating factor for Schoen — Giants’ ownership.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic said on ‘The Athletic Football Show’ ownership is reluctant to give up a massive draft haul a year after signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal that has Jones earning $36 million in guaranteed base salary this season.
“It was explained to me that that was just a really tough sell to ownership after giving Daniel Jones that contract last year,” Russini said. “That we’re going to give up assets to replace a quarterback that we’re paying $40 million. I think there’s a really small chance that they do that.
“I think there’s a better chance that they trade out for more picks.”
Russini said “they want to build. They want to get more.”
Perhaps the most stunning assertion of any of that is Graziano’s belief that Penix, the talented but oft-injured left-hander with the beautiful deep ball but some concerns about accuracy on short throws and ability to handle pressure, might be a serious consideration at No. 6.
The price of a Maye trade
What would it cost the Giants to move from No. 6 to No. 3?
When the Carolina Panthers moved up to select Bryce Young a year ago, here is what they gave up:
2023 Round 1 pick (No. 9 overall); 2023 Round 2 pick (No. 61); 2024 first-round pick (No. 1 overall); 2025 second-round pick; wide receiver D.J. Moore.
If the Giants gave up that deal, it would look like this:
2024 Round 1 pick (No. 6); 2024 Round 2 pick (No. 47); 2025 first-round pick; 2025 second-round pick; wide receiver Darius Slayton.
Now, that is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Going from No. 6 to No. 3 shouldn’t cost quite as much as going from No. 9 to No. 1. The complication, of course, is all those first-round picks the Vikings can dangle.
Bernd Buchmasser of SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit told me he thinks picks 6 and 47 or pick No. 6 and the Giants’ 2025 first-round might get a deal done. He added:
Assuming the right trade package, something like…
3: NYG (Maye)
4: ARI (Harrison)
5: LAC (Nabers or Odunze)
6: NE (McCarthy)
“…might be a positive outcome for all involved.
Buchmasser might be right, but my view is it will take more than picks 6 and 47 to get a deal done.
In his final mock draft, Art Stapleton of The Record made the move up for Maye. He made a modified version of the Panthers-Bears swap:
Giants get: Pick No. 3 and a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 137)
Patriots get: Pick No 6, 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 107), 2025 first-round pick, 2025 third-round pick, wide receiver Darius Slayton
Would you make the move up? Vote in the poll and let us know.
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