Facing a pivotal decision with their latest top-10 draft choice, the Giants are beginning the next phase of their intelligence-gathering process. It is that time of year; “30” visits are underway. And the Giants have two clear paths they could take.
The big-picture approach points to the team staying in the mix to trade up for a quarterback. On that note, the team began its face-to-face meetings last week. Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy visited the Giants, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.
While it would bring a borderline-radical about-face for the Giants to move up for a passer a year after giving Daniel Jones a four-year, $160MM extension, the contract’s structure and the team’s managerial setup point to the scenario being live. The Giants can escape the Jones contract with barely $10MM in dead money — in the event of a post-June 1 release — next year, and while this regime paid Jones, it did not draft him. Rumblings about the Giants being interested in a passer have persisted this offseason, with McCarthy emerging as a potential target.
Yes, we are entering prime smokescreen season, but McCarthy’s stock has undeniably climbed since his low-octane but hyper-efficient Michigan season wrapped. The Vikings have been linked to the Michigan product, with Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com mock draft sending Minnesota to No. 4 for McCarthy, which would be that franchise’s first top-10 quarterback pick ever. The Giants, who have been around considerably longer, have made five such investments. In the common draft era (1967-present), New York has chosen three QBs in the top 10 — Phil Simms, Eli Manning, Jones — and faces a more action-packed market thanks to Minnesota’s recent trade with Houston.
Even prior to the Vikings acquiring a second first-round pick from the Texans, Jeremiah mentioned a “strong” expectation within the NFL points to four QBs going off the board in the top six. Seeing as the Giants hold the No. 6 pick, that rumor would stand to tie closely to the team’s interest in grabbing a Jones successor with this draft real estate. While GM Joe Schoen attended Caleb Williams‘ USC pro day Wednesday, the Bears are widely expected to begin the draft with the 2022 Heisman winner.
Maye has held his spot as a passer likely to land in the top three, with Jeremiah mocking Sam Howell‘s North Carolina successor to Washington at No. 2. More buzz has connected the Commanders to Jayden Daniels, with Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN mock keeping Maye on track for New England. The Patriots may have some internal doubts about the ex-Tar Heels starter, inviting intrigue about another team moving up in the event Daniels does go second overall. The Giants would stand to be one of the teams monitoring the Pats’ decision, as the Commanders will be unlikely to trade their No. 2 pick to a division rival when a QB investment is involved.
McCarthy has rocketed up into a likely top-10 investment, participating in the Combine while the draft’s top three passing prospects did not. While the recent national championship-winning QB would be a surprise top-six pick — based on where his stock appeared to be at season’s end — the likes of Carson Wentz, Baker Mayfield and Zach Wilson have brought late QB climbs near the top of the board in recent years. The Giants are certainly investigating Jim Harbaugh‘s final Wolverines starter.
If the dominoes do not fall the Giants’ way regarding a Jones successor, the team is doing work on that end as well. The team brought in Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze for visits earlier this month, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
Harrison has generated attention for his pre-draft plan — one not consisting of workouts at the Combine or his pro day, which was held today — but the Ohio State prospect is widely viewed as the best receiver available. Jeremiah and Kiper’s big boards list Harrison as the No. 2 overall prospect, but the former adds it is likely some teams will have Nabers positioned above the second-generation WR talent on draft boards. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler adds Nabers is viewed by some clubs as the draft’s top wideout.
Harrison, Nabers (LSU) and Odunze (Washington) are each mortal locks to be chosen early in the first round. Nabers posted a 1,000-yard season in 2022 but unlocked another level to his game last season, totaling 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns to help Daniels win the Heisman. Nabers’ speed has generated intrigue among teams, though the three-year LSU receiver did not run the 40-yard dash at the Combine.
The QB interest would benefit the Giants on the wideout front, as two of these players could be on the board if a trade-up into the top five occurs. The Giants used a third-round pick on Jalin Hyatt last year and have Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson under contract. But the team has struggled at this position for years, lacking a WR1-level talent since injuries started to impact Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants will have a chance at one of these impact receivers soon, but the QB matter will likely loom until draft night.
JJ coming DJ’s payday ok Jose no way hombre
Beginning to wonder if Harrison Jr. will be there at 6. Thought we were past the era of Prima Donna receivers but he may be bringing it back. Not the best look in a wr class that is stacked at the top. Wouldn’t be the first future all pro receiver to drop a bit. Moss, Lamb, Metcalf quickly come to mind. One thing appears for certain and that is the Giants at 6 are coming out of this draft with a cornerstone player they can build around. We might see 4 qb’s in top 5 picks. McCarthy sure has the look of a qb for a Patriots team that marches to the beat of its own drummer and has a thing for Michigan qb’s who come across as a bit cocky.
How is Harrison a prima donna?
1) why would you think we were past the era of Prima Donna wide receivers?
2) how is MHJ one?
Never forget, Eli Manning was drafted by the Chargers.
Technically, yes, but he was drafted for the Giants as Philip Rivers was drafted at #4 by the Giants for the Chargers. The Chargers got picks that turned into Nate Kaeding and Shawne Merriman + another pick that was shipped around.
I don’t know how to evaluate quarterback talent. Everyone I hear or read seems to think Williams is first among elite prospects, but it’s not clear to me why they place him ahead of the others. Why wouldn’t McCarthy, for example, be as good or better for the Bears?
@real, the problem is non of these talking head nor us are in the room when these meetings happen. most teams really grill the top 10 players to gain an understanding on how they process information, take criticism and adaptability among other traits. it is surprising though that teams still fail to identify a fit. more often than not its usually a new HC to a team or a college to NFL coach that makes bad decisions. in college it’s easier to have success based on athletic ability, Lamar is one of the few who have been able to carry over to NFL. but again he went to an experienced coach who had his coaches adjust the offense to fit him in the beginning.
They might need a new quarterback, but they DEFINITELY need a WR.
IMO JJ not the real deal. The Giants desperately need a WR. I hope Harrison falls to them
I’m not down on McCarthy, but I don’t think that I’m up on him, either. Whatever anyone thinks of him, though, I think that everyone should see that the Giants have needed a receiver for a long time. I agree.