Tag: New York Giants

Adam Schefter: Vikings most ‘desperate’ to trade up with Patriots

The Minnesota Vikings know they need to draft a quarterback and team’s are poised to take advantage of it knowing they need to trade up.

Everyone knows that the Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. They will most likely have to trade up with someone to get one from this class. Because of that, the team is most likely to have a team take advantage of their desperation.

While talking on the Rich Eisen show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter hinted at this. The ESPN insider told Eisen, “Minnesota is more desperate to get up (to pick No. 3). Minnesota has more ammunition to get up there. The Giants are more in striking range of getting up there… what in the end is more valuable? The more desperate team with ammunition or the team at six.”

The longer it takes for the Vikings to trade up the harder it is going to be for the team to retain meaningful picks on day three of the 2024 NFL Draft and the 2025 NFL Draft. The projections have the team including their 2025 first-round pick more often than not.

For Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, this draft is already going to be critical; his mortgaging the future will only cement his future to any quarterback they draft this year.

Final 2024 NFL Mock Draft: Russell Brown predicts 4 trades with 5 quarterbacks drafted in the first round

The final 2024 NFL Mock Draft from Lions Wire’s Russell Brown predicts 4 trades with 5 quarterbacks drafted in the first round

It’s the best weekend of the year! I cannot wait to get to Downtown Detroit to walk the city, do radio and talk with all of the great fans in the NFL. It’s been great going through the draft process to figure out which players go to each team.

Over the last two drafts (2022 and 2023), there’s only been a total of 3 trades occurring on the day of each draft. In this draft, I predict that we’ll see 4 trades and 5 quarterbacks selected in the first round. Let’s take a look at which players go where in the 2024 NFL Draft!

  1. Chicago Bears (via CAR) – Caleb Williams, QB, USC

This one has been evident for months now. Especially after the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Steelers, there’s no bigger need for Chicago than to get this pick right. One of the top players in the draft and to me, the best quarterback in the draft, Caleb Williams is the pick. 

  1. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Whether it’s unclear which quarterback the Commanders prefer, one thing we do know is that they seem likely to keep this pick. With that, I think the quarterback that makes the most sense is Jayden Daniels. His touch downfield is great and his mobility is even better. He’ll be a weapon for offensive coordinators and it would be a wise choice for the Commanders to tap into his potential and his skill-set. 

  1. New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina 

For weeks I’ve had Drake Maye penciled into this spot so my guess is as good as yours, folks. Also, would the Patriots really trade back to salvage their opportunity for potentially their next signal caller? Their roster is bad and they sure could use a left tackle but I’ll have them stay at this spot despite the trade talk. With that, I think Maye is a good selection to jump start their new regime in Foxborough. 

  1. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Even though it’s fun to predict a trade back scenario for the Cardinals, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pass on the best player in the draft. After all, the Cardinals have 6 picks in the top-100 and that includes two selections in the first round. They can get aggressive later in the draft but for now, they should stay put and take Harrison Jr., to give quarterback Kyler Murray a true number one receiver. 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers – Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame 

I’ve gone back and forth about a trade down with the Vikings and other teams but I just can’t see it happening right now. With that, we all know that Jim Harbaugh loves the offensive line and wants to run the football. Protecting Justin Herbert is a wise plan for Harbaugh as well so this selection makes sense. Part of me considered J.C. Latham in this spot as I’ve had multiple sources tell me that “Harbaugh loves him.” However, I think they’ll stick with the best tackle in the draft. Alt is athletic enough to play left or right tackle for the Chargers. 

  1. New York Giants – Rome Odunze, WR, Washington 

It’s no secret that the Giants have been researching the quarterbacks in this draft. I’d be somewhat surprised if they took Michael Penix Jr., in this spot but I guess anything is possible. Meanwhile, it sounds like they’re “off” on McCarthy. That said, I think Rome Odunze is just a home run pick for the Giants because he’s different from most receivers they have on the roster. They pass on the signal caller and reassess the draft board on day two.  

  1. Tennessee Titans – J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama 

If Joe Alt is here, I think it’s a sprint to the podium spot for the Titans. With him gone, I think the Titans could pivot to Malik Nabers or one of the defensive players but ultimately, they need to ensure that Will Levis is well protected. J.C. Latham is a good athlete for his size and has some of the strongest hands of any tackle in the class.

  1. Indianapolis Colts (Mock Trade with Atlanta) – Malik Nabers, WR, LSU 

There’s been speculation that Nabers could be the first WR off the board. If he’s not, I think he falls right into this 8 or 9 range. There could be a deal that occurs from the Buffalo Bills or even the Los Angeles Rams but I think the Colts make sense by taking full advantage of quarterback Anthony Richardson being on a rookie deal. Adding Nabers gives them legit playmakers all over the field and makes them one of the more fun offenses in the league.

Mock Trade Details:

  • ATL Receives: 2024 1st-Round Pick (15th overall) and 2024 2nd-Round Pick (46th overall)
  • IND Receives: 2024 1st-Round Pick (8th overall)

 

  1. Chicago Bears – Byron Murphy, IDL, Texas 

I could see Dallas Turner or Brock Bowers in this spot but ultimately, I think this would be a terrific addition for the Bears. As much as I like Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens in the middle of their defensive line, Murphy provides more as a pass-rusher and a run defender. He could be a plug-and-play starter to help prevent the potential threats that the offenses in the NFC North present. 

  1. New York Jets – Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State 

Went back and forth for about a week between Bowers and Fuaga but ultimately, I landed on Fuaga. That was the player that the Jets fell in love with at the Senior Bowl and with Joe Douglas being an offensive line guy, this just makes sense. This gives them guard and tackle flexibility to start the season and if anything were to happen with Tyron Smith or Morgan Moses, I think Fuaga can slide right into a starting tackle role for the Jets. 

  1. Minnesota Vikings – J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan 

I could see the Vikings getting antsy and moving up but the more I talk with those connected to the Vikings, the thought is that they will keep the 11th and 23rd overall picks. With that, McCarthy falls right into the Vikings lap and they take their quarterback of the future. I think McCarthy is a great fit for Kevin O’Connell’s offense and him having Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison should bode well for his success. 

  1. Denver Broncos – Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama 

It wouldn’t surprise me if a team moved up for a pass-catcher or a cornerback in this spot. That said, Dallas Turner would be the best player available for the Broncos and that’s exactly what this team needs to do currently. Take the best player available and figure out who’s playing quarterback later. 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders – Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington 

Similar to the Broncos, the Raiders just need to add good football players. Despite the connections and interest in Michael Penix Jr, I think the Raiders will be interested in an offensive tackle such as Troy Fautanu. He’s athletic enough to play anywhere on the offensive line and certainly has the arm length necessary to play tackle. 

 

  1. New Orleans Saints – Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State 

There could be a scenario where Fashanu is off the board in this spot but ultimately, he ends up falling in the lap of the Saints. We all know about the left and right tackle needs for the Saints due to concerns of Ryan Ramczyk’s knee. With that, Fashanu should be a plug-and-play starter at either tackle position with great length and ability to anchor consistently. 

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (Mock Trade with Indianapolis) – Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA 

Fatu or Turner are real possibilities at 8th overall but with the Colts projected to move up, the Falcons are able to acquire additional capital and still get their guy. Latu is the best pure pass rusher in this draft and the only hold up for him to be locked into the top-10 is the medical concerns with his neck.

Mock Trade Details:

  • ATL Receives: 2024 1st-Round Pick (15th overall) and 2024 2nd-Round Pick (46th overall)
  • IND Receives: 2024 1st-Round Pick (8th overall)
  1. Philadelphia Eagles (Mock Trade with Seattle) – Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo 

For the last two days, we continuously hear about the Eagles having interest in a cornerback. The name that continues to be mentioned is Quinyon Mitchell and it’s easy to see why any team needing help at cornerback would have him at the top of their board. This could be a smoke screen to force other teams to draft a cornerback so a pass-catcher or offensive tackle gets within the reaching distance of the Eagles. For now, they add Mitchell to their secondary as he’s got some of the click-and-close ability of any cornerback we’ve seen in awhile. 

Mock Trade Details:

  • SEA Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (22nd overall) and 2024 2nd Round Pick (53rd overall)
  • PHI Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (16th overall) and 2024 3rd Round Pick (81st overall)
  1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama 

It’ll be interesting where teams value Arnold as he’s a bit of a “wild man” with his lower body technique. However, his physicality and praise from Nick Saban won’t go unnoticed from NFL decision makers. The Jaguars need help on the perimeter and with teams like the Texans and Colts getting better on offense, this defense needs to stop the bleeding. 

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals – Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia 

Where does Bowers fit in the first round? If it’s not the Bears at 9 or Jets at 10, it feels like he slips outside of the top-15. Especially if the Colts trade up for a receiver. So with that, the Bowers’ fall stops here. By adding Bowers, the Bengals give themselves a legitimate receiving threat and it allows them to use their other tight end, Drew Sample in more of a blocking role while in max protection to keep Joe Burrow upright. That’s exactly what the LSU Tigers did with Burrow in college and it would be wise to consider it here for the Bengals. 

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams – Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State 

Could we see Amarius Mims in this spot? It could happen and one name that’s been mentioned is Chop Robinson. However, Jared Verse is a top-15 player in this draft and he’d be a great fit for a defensive line that just lost Aaron Donald. Verse may not be an interior player but he should be able to align in multiple spots while having the speed-to-power needed to disrupt the pocket. 

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Graham Barton, IOL, Duke 

Sure feels like the Steelers have been connected to interior offensive lineman for much of the draft process. Preferably a center. With Barton staring them in the face, this just feels like a player they would take and we’d watch him carve out a starting role for the next 10-to-12 years in black and gold. Barton is a strong run blocker that looks to finish those blocks consistently and he’s athletic enough to play anywhere needed for the Steelers. 

 

  1. Miami Dolphins – Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas 

The two most common names brought to my attention for the Dolphins are Verse and Worthy. With Verse gone, the Dolphins select Worthy here and it makes all the sense in the world. Their offense already has one of the most explosive players in the league with Tyreek Hill and by adding Worthy, this just helps this offense take another step. There’s a lot of holes on the roster so I wouldn’t rule out a trade down with a team like the Cardinals but for now, they stay put and add another playmaker to their offense. 

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (Mock Trade with Philadelphia) – Cooper Dejean, CB, Iowa 

This would be a perfect scenario for the Seahawks as they get additional draft capital and a player I’d have them take at 16th overall. Dejean just fits what Mike Macdonald could use for his defense with the cover 3 and quarters coverage that he runs. Dejean could play cornerback or safety and would be able to contribute on special teams as a returner. 

Mock Trade Details:

  • SEA Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (22nd overall) and 2024 2nd Round Pick (53rd overall)
  • PHI Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (16th overall) and 2024 3rd Round Pick (81st overall)
  1. Minnesota Vikings – Jer’Zhan Newton, IDL, Illinois

If the Vikings keep the 23rd overall pick, I think they end up landing on a defensive player like Darius Robinson or Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. Reason I mention Robinson is because at the Senior Bowl two years ago, I heard Brian Flores just talking about the speed-to-power that Derrick Hall had and I could see the same thing about Robinson. That said, I think Newton is a first round type of player and he’d be a great addition to the Vikings bone thin interior defensive line. Newton has quick hands and he shows a good motor in run support. 

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma 

The Cowboys draft plan should be about adding talent to their offensive line and a running back. With no running back worthy of a first round selection, Tyler Guyton is the player that makes a lot of sense for Dallas. They need a starting right tackle and if Guyton can stay healthy, he can certainly be that type of player at some point as a rookie. He’s got a great first step and there’s plenty of power behind his hands. 

 

  1. Green Bay Packers – Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia 

To me, this would be the best landing spot for Mims in the first round. He could sit behind Zach Tom for a season, if needed or he could play right tackle as Tom moves inside to guard or center. There’s been discussions of Tom making that move so while Mims is a bit of a project due to only starting 7 games in college, he’s incredibly athletic for a player of his size. Protecting Jordan Love and keeping the Packers offense flowing should be a top priority. 

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State 

While I don’t view Chop Robinson as a first round player, I can still see why teams would value him. Meanwhile, I’ve heard that he’s interviewed incredibly well. The Bucs would be thrilled to add his first step explosiveness to the mix of Joe Tyron-Shoyinka, Yaya Diaby and Randy Gregory. With Robinson, he’ll need to get home more consistently versus the pass and become more consistent against the run but this would be a good landing spot for him in the first round. 

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (via HOU) – Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson 

Like I mentioned with the Dolphins pick, I could see the Cardinals moving up from the 27th overall pick rather than moving down from the 4th overall pick. That said, I’ll keep them here to take Nate Wiggins. He does struggle as a tackler but his long speed, effort and press-man ability is worthy of a first round pick. 

 

  1. Buffalo Bills – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU 

Every mock draft that I’ve done, I struggle on where to place Brian Thomas Jr from LSU. In this spot, he falls in the lap of the Bills and that’s mostly because I could see them considering a move up for him. He’s a player that I’ve labeled as the “slot fade king” and with his vertical ability, he seems destined to catch touchdown passes from Josh Allen. 

 

  1. Washington Commanders (Mock Trade with Detroit) – Jordan Morgan, IOL, Arizona 

There’s been a lot of buzz around Patrick Paul from Houston as a first round pick and I do wonder if the Lions are one of the teams that are interested in him. But one of the worst kept secrets in this draft is the Commanders using their draft capital to get back into the first round for offensive line help. One player they’ve met with is Jordan Morgan from Arizona and he’s a player with 32 ⅞” arms so a move to guard could happen. But the Commanders move up and try him at tackle to protect their new franchise quarterback, Jayden Daniels. 

Mock Trade Details:

  • DET Receives: 2024 2nd Round Pick (36th overall) and 2024 3rd Round Pick (100th overall)
  • WAS Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (29th overall)
  1. Baltimore Ravens – Kool Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

I’m still a firm believer that Christian Haynes could be the pick in this spot. We’ll see if that happens or not but with Kool-Aid McKinstry available, I think he’d be an ideal fit for the Ravens due to how well he plays in press-man and ability to tackle on the perimeter. Keep in mind, Ozzie Newsome may not be the general manager anymore but he’s still got a key role in the organization so I think that pipeline between the Ravens and Alabama players is a real thing. 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (Mock Trade with San Francisco) — Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington 

The 49ers just feel like they’re in such a weird place as a team. There’s all types of connections to them moving on from one of their receivers but it’s unclear if they actually do. With that, I think they’d be more than happy to trade out of this spot and let a team like the Raiders jump up and get their quarterback of the future.

Mock Trade Details:

  • SF Receives: 2024 2nd Round Pick (44th overall), 2024 4th Round Pick (70th overall) & 2025 5th Round Pick
  • LV Receives: 2024 1st Round Pick (31st overall)
  1. Kansas City Chiefs – Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

There could be a real connection with Kingsley Suamatia here, especially with Andy Reid playing at BYU back in the day. However, the Chiefs traded away one of their best defensive players in L’Jarius Sneed and I think that may force the Chiefs to take a corner sooner rather than later. Sainristil is just a playmaker that is always around the football and he can play inside or outside for a defense. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would know exactly how to use him for his defense.

Drake Maye to the Big Apple?

Will Drake Maye find himself playing in the country’s biggest market this fall? Things could be heating up with the New York Giants.

It’s safe to say that New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones hasn’t lived up to his 2019 NFL Draft selection.

Jones, the former Duke Blue Devil, was taken sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. He posted solid numbers in college – 8,201 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 1,323 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, convincing the G-Men to take a flyer on him.

Jones enjoyed solid rookie and 2022 NFL campaigns, surpassing the 3,000-passing yard mark in each, but he’s only thrown over 20 touchdowns once (2019). These aren’t the numbers New York envisioned for their supposed franchise quarterback.

If the Giants want to go quarterback in this year’s NFL Draft, which starts on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET, there’s plenty of talent. Caleb Williams (USC) is the consensus number one pick, but there’s also Drake Maye (UNC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix Jr (Washington). and JJ McCarthy (Michigan) as QB headliners.

According to ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan, the Giants are actively trying to trade up from their sixth overall slot and select Maye.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6HPeQkrjvK/

Maye only started for two years at North Carolina, but he enjoyed a significantly more productive collegiate career.

He threw for 7,929 yards and 62 touchdowns in two years leading the Tar Heel offense, being named the 2022 ACC Player and Rookie of the Year. Maye also showcased his running abilities, rushing for 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns in both starting years.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

2024 NFL draft: Would taking a first-round WR be a risky gamble for Giants?

Selecting a first-round receiver would be a risky gamble for the New York Giants based on data compiled over the past 20 years.

What’s the riskiest position for an NFL team to spend a first-round draft pick on?

According to an ESPN analysis from 2000-2019, the position that “hit” the least in the first round was wide receiver. Of the 77 wide receivers taken in the first round of the NFL draft, only 27 percent went on to earn a second contract with the team that drafted them.

The Giants are in prime position to select one of this draft’s top three wideouts at No. 6 overall. They will likely be staring at one or more of the following: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze of Washington, and LSU’s Malik Nabers.

Since 2000, the Giants have only used a first-round pick on a wide receiver three times — Hakeem Nicks (2009), Odell Beckham Jr. (2014), and Kadarius Toney (2021).

One could argue they hit on two, but according to the above metric, they technically hit on Beckham only.

Nicks played five seasons for the Giants and was an integral piece on their Super Bowl XLVI championship team. He did not re-sign with the Giants after his five-year, $12.54 million deal with the club expired after the 2013 season.

Nicks signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014 but then came back and finished his career with the Giants in 2015.

Beckham played five seasons for the Giants and did earn a second contract with the club but was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Cleveland Browns in 2019

Toney had all kinds of issues as a Giant. He suffered from a combination of injuries and inconsistency. The Giants dealt him to Kansas City in 2022 for a third-round pick and a sixth-rounder.

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Could Giants gamble and draft Michael Penix Jr. at No. 6 overall?

The New York Giants “might even be willing to take” QB Michael Penix at No. 6 overall according to a recent ESPN report.

The 2024 NFL draft is a mere day away and the rumors are flying in abundance. The New York Giants’ sixth pick has been a hot topic as most analysts have Big Blue taking a quarterback with that pick, or trading down, or even trading up for a better quarterback.

Even ESPN’s Dan Graziano can’t pin down what the Giants are going to do.

A month ago, many in the league believed their favorite quarterback in the class was McCarthy. If that were true, things have changed. The rumblings early this week: The Giants’ guy is Maye.

But that’s not all there is to this story. Graziano goes on to explain that he’s been told the Giants and Vikings have been the most active in talking with the Patriots about their No. 3 pick. Should Washington take Jayden Daniels at No. 2, Graziano says the Giants might be interested in trading up for Drake May.

While that’s an interesting rumor, it’s not set in stone that the Giants will try to trade up for a quarterback. There is, however, a real possibility that the Giants take a gamble on Mike Penix Jr. with the sixth pick, says Graziano.

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.

Considering Daniel Jones is still owed $36 million in guaranteed money for 2024, taking a quarterback who needs some development isn’t out of the question.

The question remains, though, should the Giants gamble on Penix? Or any quarterback? Or should the Giants seek out a projected year-one starting receiver?

The Giants’ front office only has a few more hours to research, analyze, and evaluate the players they are considering taking in the draft. The rumors will continue to fly, but no one will really know what the Giants are going to do until they do it.

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Giants’ Joe Schoen: ‘Nobody knows’ what we’re going to do

New York Giants GM Joe Schoen says despite all the smoke, rumor and speculation, no one knows what they’re going to do in the 2024 NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday night in Detroit and there hasn’t been a whole lot of movement trade-wise between the teams as many have expected.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, who holds the sixth overall selection in the first round, says it’s just too early to tell what to expect come Thursday in the way of a trade.

“You’re going through all the possible scenarios, whether it’s moving up, staying where we are, or moving back,” Schoen told Giants.com. “There’s a lot of strategy that’s going into it right now.

“(The discussions) will pick up as we get closer to Thursday, I think. I told all those people, ‘Nothing’s really going to happen before Thursday, so call back.’ We’ll have conversations early in the day on, ‘Hey, if we did do something, what would it look like?’ And typically, you have a few deals in place before the draft starts. That way, when you’re on the clock, everything’s been negotiated.”

The Giants have a few options, or scenarios, as Schoen would put it. They can stay put and take the best player that falls to them, or they can make a trade.

“There’s going to be a lot of smoke this week: ‘This is the Giants’ guy and this is who they’re taking,'” Schoen said. “And nobody knows because there’s one person that does and I’m keeping things pretty close to the vest in terms of what we’re going to do. The more people that know what’s going on, you maybe put them in a predicament you don’t want to put them in where they know the information, it gets out and then you’re looking at them sideways. So, try to keep as much information in house and that’ll continue through Thursday in terms of when I get a feel for what’s going to happen around us.”

It doesn’t appear that the Chicago Bears are going to part with the first overall selection. They are locked into USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

“We all know Caleb Williams is going number one, that’s pretty much a done deal,” Schoen said this week. “Feel good about that.”

The Washington Commanders own the second selection. They will also take a quarterback, either LSU’s Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye of North Carolina. There’s also an outside shot they can select Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

The New England Patriots have the third pick and are in the market for a quarterback as well, but would be willing to trade back if the right offer comes their way. The Giants could be a trade partner if that occurs.

Depending on what happens with Washington and New England, the Giants could seek to move up to the fourth spot, held by the Arizona Cardinals, or the fifth spot, where the Los Angeles Chargers could be willing to deal. There’s also the possibility of a team jumping in front of them, such as Denver, Minnesota, or Las Vegas.

Schoen’s best bet could be to stand pat. He likes this draft class and said he has 15 players with first-round grades.

“Last year, we had 11. Every year it’s different based on what you’re given. You don’t put them there just for posterity or just a visual for window dressing,” he said. “These are guys that we think deserve first-round grades. If they’re not up there, you put them in the second. You put them where their grade is. We don’t put 32 guys up there to have 32 guys in the first round.”

The suspense will build after the Bears come off the clock on Thursday night.  Schoen said he’ll be prepared.

“I’m going to make a lot of phone calls on Thursday,” he said. “Hopefully, some information will start to trickle out in terms of what’s going to happen in front of us so we can continue to headcount who may be there at six, or what we may be doing, if we’re going to move up, back, or stay where we are.

“So just try to gather as much information as I can, again, talk to the other general managers around the league. If anybody wants to come up to six, get those agreements in place. Things will happen fast once you’re on the clock, so you’ve got to be ready.”

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Adam Schefter: Vikings and Giants ‘most interested’ in trading up

On the Pat McAfee show, Adam Schefter reported the Minnesota Vikings have competition from the New York Giants to move up in the NFL draft.

The NFL draft is tomorrow, and we could see a whole lot of drama at the top. It’s no secret that the Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback, and conventional wisdom says they’re looking to move up to get one. The problem? They’re far from the only team that needs a QB, and they may not be the only ones looking to move up, either.

According to Adam Schefter in an interview on the Pat McAfee Show, the Vikings could be competing with the New York Giants to trade up for their quarterback. McAfee asked Schefter about the New England Patriots’ position at three, and Schefter mentioned that the Vikings and Giants have been the two most active in trade talks with New England.

Unlike the Giants, the Vikings have not one, but two, first round picks they can package together in an effort to move up. On the other hand, the Giants currently have the number six overall pick in the draft, which could be appealing for the Patriots if they think they can move down a few spots and still get a quarterback — perhaps former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that New England certainly has a need at the position of their own. The Patriots traded former starting quarterback Mac Jones in the offseason and, though they are reportedly listening to offers, may not be able to be convinced to move off that spot.

If Minnesota is going to move up into the top 3 in an effort to land former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, they’re certainly fighting an uphill battle. One that may prove to be impossible to overcome. We’ll find out tomorrow night!

Giants named a favorite team fit for QB Drake Maye

Pro Football Focus names the New York Giants the “favorite team fit” for North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

The New York Giants hold the sixth overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Many mock drafters are predicting Big Blue grabs a stud wide receiver with the pick as the top four quarterbacks could be off the board by the time they are on the clock.

But, if by some chance, one of those four players — USC’s Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels of LSU, Drake Maye of North Carolina, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy — fall to the Giants, Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus believes Maye would be the best fit for general manager Joe Schoen’s Giants.

I still have Maye as my QB2 in this class, but even then, I can recognize that he needs to hone his fundamentals, make his throwing motion more repeatable and consistent and not put the ball in harm’s way as much as he did in 2023.

Brian Daboll is the ideal coach to get that done with Maye. He did so with Josh Allen when he was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo for four seasons. He allowed Allen to still be who he is as a quarterback while limiting his mistakes.

The scenario is becoming more and more unlikely as the teams selecting first and second — Chicago and Washington — are expected to take Williams and Daniels, respectively, and New England is asking for a king’s ransom for the pick in a trade.

If a team does not meet the Patriots’ price, they are expected to take either Maye or McCarthy, as is any team acquiring the pick.

The Giants trading up to No. 3 would likely entail them sending No. 6 and No. 47 in this year’s draft plus next year’s first-round pick to the Pats.

If the Giants do end up with Maye, he may not be the starter on Day 1. Daniel Jones is still the starter, depending on the status of his knee, and Schoen inked Drew Lock to a one-year deal in free agency. There’s a bit of a traffic jam for Maye to overcome.

But Maye is the type of player that Daboll wants to run his offense. He would have to guide Maye through the NFL acclimation process in the beginning before handing over the keys.

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LSU wide receivers, potential Giants targets, dealing with shoulder issues

LSU receivers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., both potential New York Giants targets, are reportedly dealing with shoulder injuries.

The New York Giants hold the sixth overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft this Thursday night in Detroit. It is widely believed that if they can’t snag one of the top quarterbacks in the class, they’ll take one of the three stud wide receivers instead.

Those choices could be slimming as veteran NFL reporter Albert Breer is reporting that both stud receivers from LSU — Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. — are dealing with shoulder issues that will need surgery at some point.

Both of LSU’s star receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers, have issues with their left shoulders. The risk here is considered relatively minimal — in both cases, there’s a chance the player may have to have the shoulder surgically repaired after the 2024 season. Bryan Bresee, the Saints’ first-round pick last year, had a similar situation with his shoulder coming into the draft last year.

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Nabers is a top 10 pick and Thomas is expected to go in the first round as well. Both players performed well in their pre-draft workouts and showed little to no sign of being affected by the shoulder issues, so we’ll see if causes either player to fall in the order come Thursday night.

With Marvin Harrison Jr. likely gone by the time the Giants are on the clock at No. 6, they could simply shift gears from Nabers to Washington’s Rome Odunze, who is also considered a top 10 caliber wideout.

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Report: Giants ownership reluctant to trade up for quarterback

New York Giants ownership is reportedly reluctant to trade up for a quarterback after signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal.

With 24 hours remaining until Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft, rumors continue circulating about the New York Giants and what they intend to do with the No. 6 overall pick.

More and more reports have surfaced suggesting they’d like to trade up for a quarterback — specifically, North Carolina’s Drake Maye. However, that may not be the case.

Diana Russini of The Athletic reports that team ownership is reluctant to sign off on trading up for a quarterback after giving Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million deal last offseason.

This general manager, Joe Schoen, did not draft Daniel Jones, but he did give him that contract last year. There was a time where I was digging on trying to find out if they were willing to trade up. There have been some mocks out there that had the Giants moving up to go get a quarterback. It was explained to me that that was just a really tough sell to ownership after giving Daniel Jones that contract last year that we’re going to now 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.

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Publicly, Giants co-owner John Mara has given the green light for general manager Joe Schoen to take a quarterback but he maintains that Jones will be the starter in 2024.

“I still have a lot of confidence in Daniel,” Mara told NFL Network in March. “I think the Daniel that we saw in 2022 is the real deal. Last year he was hurt, a lot of his offensive linemen were hurt, and things just did not go our way. But I still have all the confidence in the world in him. Hopefully, he will be able to go by training camp, and yes, I think we all expect him to be the starter in 2024.”

“If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it’s worth pick No. 6 or moving up, I certainly would support that,” Mara told ESPN.

In about 38-40 hours, the speculation will be put to rest and we’ll know where the Giants are going in Round 1.

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