With the NFL Combine beginning this week and the NFL Draft right around the corner, the speculation around the New York Giants moving up to find Daniel Jones’ replacement this year is starting to get louder.
There have been various rumblings coming out of the Giants organization about what they may do in April’s draft. The team has several key needs after a disappointing 6-11 showing this past season, but the spot most fans and pundits want to talk about is who will be their quarterback for this season and the future.
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After battling more injuries and missing much of the season, many doubt the incumbent is the long-term answer at QB. Especially in a year with a strong draft class for signal callers. However, recent reports have suggested the organization is remaining loyal to Jones and plans for him to be their starter in 2024. Well, a new report is countering that narrative.
On Monday, ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan revealed some interesting information about the team’s thinking about the QB spot heading into the spring.
“You have Daniel Jones now, three years [and] three injuries. Two pretty serious neck injuries and he tore his ACL last year and he’s still rehabbing from that. When you’re looking at it from the Giants’ perspective, are General Manager Joe Schoen and Coach Brian Daboll willing to risk their professional careers with a quarterback with that injury history?” Raanan said.
“I’ve been told by multiple sources that if the situation presented itself correctly the Giants would, at least, be seriously willing to look at the quarterback position [in the draft].”
That report got the participants on a Tuesday edition of ESPN’s “Get Up” to put on their speculation hats and make a case for the New York Giants to trade up in the NFL Draft from six to three and take North Carolina star Drake may. A prospect that host Mike Greenberg suggested bears a resemblance to Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, a player who flourished under the guidance of Daboll when he served as the team’s offensive coordinator for four seasons.
“It feels like a move that makes all the sense in the world to me,” said Greenberg. He then asked NFL analyst Tim Hassleback if Maye is the player the team should possibly target in April and the veteran quarterback agreed he would seem like a good fit for the G-Men.
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“I agree,” Hassleback told Greenberg. “I think part of your thought process on [Jones] was this report from Jordan Raanan. Daniel Jones hasn’t been healthy, so whatever you think of him as a player, fine, but he’s not available. It’s a little bit like the Jimmy Garoppolo situation where you say, ‘If you keep getting injured we’ve got to make a move anyway.'”
“There’s that factor, and then you bring in the Brian Daboll factor, which is the seats going to be pretty hot, and the best way to save your job as a head coach is to have a young quarterback who’s trending in the right direction as a player,” he added.
“Get your hands on a really good prospect, which I certainly think Drake Maye is, and if he ends up being the guy that’s available at No. 3 I think it just makes complete sense and you’ve got to be up there to make it happen.”
Maye, USC’s Caleb Williams, and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels are expected to be the first three QBs selected in April and could be the top three picks. The Atlanta Falcons make their selection at three, however, they or the Washington Commanders adding a top signal-caller in free agency could change their draft strategy and maybe Maye or Daniels falls to the Giants at six.