The New York Giants are coming off of yet another disappointing season after finishing 6-11, good for third place in the NFC East last season. As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, many wonder what they will do with their six picks (one in each of the first six rounds).
With the sixth overall pick in the first round, New York will be primed to take someone who can make an immediate impact on the team. Depending on who gets drafted in the top five, this could be a big-name wide receiver like Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, a stud offensive tackle like Joe Alt, or Brock Bowers, the consensus top tight end in the draft.
Are the New York Giants in the Market for a Quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft?
Despite the many needs that the Giants have, and the fact that quarterback Daniel Jones is entering just the second year of a four-year $160 million deal, there are those that believe that the Giants could trade up from the sixth overall pick to grab one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears are almost surely going to draft Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. According to a report by ESPN NFL insiders this morning, the Washington Commanders drafting Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick is almost as sure of a thing as Williams going to Chicago.
That would leave Drake Maye of UNC as the remaining top-three quarterback in the draft that the Giants potentially could take. The problem, though, is that the New England Patriots own the third overall pick and are in need of a quarterback.
The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, who own the fourth and fifth picks respectively, are not in need of a quarterback, so it is possible that, if New England drafts Marvin Harrison Jr. (which they are rumored to be considering), Maye could fall to the Giants anyway.
That being said, there are other rumors that state that New York wants to ensure they get their quarterback and may be willing to trade up to get him.
Will the New York Giants Trade Up to Get UNC Quarterback Drake Maye?
According to Jordan Raanan who covers the Giants for ESPN, New York is actively trying to trade up in the draft, and their specific target is Drake Maye:
As mentioned, the Bears’ selecting Williams and the Commanders selecting Daniels appear to be locks around the NFL. Since the Giants, then, will not be able to trade up for the first or second overall pick, it is only logical to conclude that they are trying to work out a deal with the Patriots for the third overall pick.
Would Drake Maye Start Right Away for the New York Giants?
As mentioned previously, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is in the midst of a four-year $160 million contract. In 2024, his dead cap hit is $69.3 million, according to Spotrac.
Next season, however, Jones is due to have a cap hit of roughly $41 million and a dead cap hit of about $22 million. This means, of course, that the Giants could save $19 million on their 2025 salary cap by releasing him.
If the Giants do draft Maye, or any other quarterback for that matter, they will likely start off the season as Jones’ backup. Once the season is over, the team will then decide whether to keep Jones for another year of his contract or move on to their young draft pick.
