The New York Giants are openly considering selecting a quarterback in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. The key question is whether a preferred quarterback will be available with the sixth overall pick. If not, the Giants may look to trade up, but only if the right quarterback is still on the board.
North Carolina’s Drake Maye is reportedly the prospect most likely to tempt the Giants into a blockbuster trade up from the sixth pick, according to several NFL sources familiar with the team’s plans. With USC’s Caleb Williams expected to be selected by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick, many in the NFL believe that Maye, at 21 years old, is the next quarterback on the Giants’ radar.
If Maye manages to slip past the Washington Commanders, who hold the second overall pick (which is not guaranteed), the Giants could consider making an aggressive offer to the New England Patriots to move up to the third pick to secure him. However, it’s uncertain if the Giants would make a similar move for quarterbacks Jayden Daniels from LSU or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, the other top quarterbacks likely to be available at that spot.
Despite the Giants’ heavy scouting efforts on all top quarterbacks, their draft board is far from finalized. The Giants have attended pro days and plan to hold private workouts with most of the top quarterback prospects. However, their final decision may hinge on which quarterback they ultimately fall in love with, similar to the Bills’ strategy in 2018 when they traded up multiple times to draft Josh Allen.
While a trade up for Maye is a possibility, several obstacles could make it difficult for the Giants to execute, including the Patriots’ potential reluctance to trade down from the third pick and the high cost associated with such a move. Nevertheless, Giants co-owner John Mara has expressed support for a trade if Schoen and Daboll “fall in love” with a quarterback.
Ultimately, the Giants’ willingness to trade up for Maye or another quarterback will depend on various factors, including the outcome of the first few picks in the draft. Schoen has indicated that any trade would likely occur late in the draft process, after the team has had a chance to get to know the prospects and finalize their plans.
