If the Giants are eyeing one of the consensus top-three quarterbacks in the draft, they might as well forget about filling the roster’s many other holes with high picks.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah — a well-connected former scout for the Eagles, Ravens and Browns — said Thursday the Giants would have to package three second-round picks with No. 6 overall in a trade with the Patriots to move up to No. 3.
It mirrors the price that the Jets paid to the Colts to get from No. 6 to No. 3 in 2018 and could be the only option available to the Giants — because the Bears seem likely to stick at No. 1, and trades between division rivals (Commanders are No. 2) are rare.
“It’s a steep price to pay — a little bit of a premium there — but you can get up to No. 3 with the ammunition that they have,” Jeremiah said. “I know you have one more year of Daniel Jones before they can get out of that contract, but I would think that would be something very much in play.”
Just three times since 1970 has a draft started with three straight quarterback selections, but the Giants would be playing with fire by hoping USC’s Caleb Williams, the consensus top prospect, North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels fall to No. 6. An idle hand could miss out on Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, too.
“When it’s all said and done, it feels like you are going to have the three quarterbacks go No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 — whether that’s with New England taking one or either them or Washington trading out,” Jeremiah said. “Talking to people around the league, that seems to be the expectation. … [It] would be pretty nuts if four of the first five picks were quarterbacks, but I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility.”
The Giants might have anticipated banking assets to make such an offer as far back as October, when they added a second-round pick by trading soon-to-be free agent Leonard Williams to the Seahawks.
So, the Giants — whose premium needs before free agency include two offensive linemen, a cornerback, a receiver, a safety and a running back — could pick three top-50 players (No. 6, No. 39 and No. 47), or they could reset the future at quarterback if the Patriots are willing trade partners.
Jeremiah isn’t certain that’s the best path for the new-era Patriots.
“To me, it would be tough to pass on a quarterback,” Jeremiah said. “You’re not guaranteed to be up here again. There’s no guarantee in future years what it looks like at the position. I think you have three guys who are worthy of consideration there.
“Being in that stadium last year, I didn’t recognize it. It was just so flat. It wasn’t just a bad team, it was a boring team. Any of those top three quarterbacks, they bring so much energy and life to your franchise.”
The Giants didn’t expect to be in this spot after signing Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension last season. But Jones suffered his second serious neck injury and a season-ending torn ACL, prompting consideration of other options — including waiting for a second-tier prospect in the second round.
One less-appealing possibility is letting 2024 play out with Jones and backup Tommy DeVito, and further addressing quarterback in 2025 when Jones’ contract allows for an out with a $22.2 million dead-cap charge. There is urgency now.
“There doesn’t seem to be as much excitement at this point in the process about next year’s [quarterbacks],” Jeremiah said, “so I think that could spur some action for these teams to take one where they are — or maybe even go up and get one.”
Jeremiah expects Daniels to be the quarterback most likely available at No. 3. The Giants, Falcons, Vikings and Raiders all could be interested.
“You get mobility with all three,” Jeremiah said. “All three of them — from everything I’ve been told — are really bright. It’s more about the ceiling of what you think they can be. Drake Maye, having a little more prototypical size and playing in kind of a rugged division, that might be more of a decision-making point [for the Commanders] than the offense.”
