Although the Giants landed one LSU superstar during the 2024 NFL Draft, it appears they were angling for another.
In seemingly a preview of next week’s “Hard Knocks” featuring Big Blue, the third episode ended with a snippet of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll expressing their interests in trading up the draft board to select Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels.
“Daniels, you guys seen enough that you would trade up for him?” Schoen asked, while flanked by assistant general manager Brandon Brown and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell.
“Daniels? Yeah, I would,” Daboll replied.
Brown also nodded in agreement.
The Giants were previously shown meeting with the Heisman winner during late February’s Combine, with Daboll testing Daniels’ recall and play conceptualization.
The teaser for the fourth episode of the series also showcased Schoen and Daboll in Baton Rouge, La., for the Tigers’ Pro Day, watching highly anticipated performances from Daniels as well as future Giants’ No. 6 pick Malik Nabers and receiver Brian Thomas.
Big Blue’s interest in the draft’s top quarterbacks was reported heavily throughout the offseason — and largely reinforced with cameras taking viewers behind the scenes.
The franchise’s top brass was documented to have met with Caleb Williams, Daniels and Drake Maye in Indianapolis on “Hard Knocks.”
Then, during the opening night of the 2024 NFL Draft, Schoen reportedly attempted to move up three picks to land the Patriots’ No. 3 pick to select Maye.
On top of that, any attempts from the Giants to move up from No. 6 to No. 2 for Daniels seem to have been rebuffed by the Washington Commanders, who selected Daniels.
The Giants ultimately couldn’t find a suitor, nor any top-flight quarterback that early.
With Williams, Daniels and Maye off the board, the team opted for Nabers — even though Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, a player heavily connected to the organization, was still available.
Although the Giants added a weapon instead of a gunslinger, Schoen repeatedly recognized incumbent starter Daniel Jones’ injury concerns during “Hard Knocks.”
Jones tore his ACL during Week 9 of the 2023 season and, two years prior, missed the final six games of the year with a neck injury.
The third installment of the nascent offseason “Hard Knocks” also detailed the organization’s reaction to learning running back Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, plus offered a glimpse into the free agent negotiation process for players like Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eleumenor and Tyrod Taylor.
Having already revealed the intricacies of the pre-draft scouting process, the journey to trading for a superstar like edge rusher Brian Burns and balancing finances during free agency, the new version of “Hard Knocks” has captivated fans during a lull in the football timeline.
The next episode is slated to air July 23 at 9 p.m. ET — the same day the Giants report to training camp in East Rutherford, N.J.
