4:05pm: Providing further details on the Giants’ efforts, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports New York included its 2025 first-round pick in the final offer for No. 3. The team therefore matched the Vikings in that respect, making it notable New England elected to remain in place in lieu of adding extra Day 1 capital next year.
2:00pm: The pre-draft reporting that pointed to Drake Maye pulling ahead of J.J. McCarthy for the Giants turned out to be accurate. Despite McCarthy being on the board at No. 6, New York passed and went with Malik Nabers.
As the LSU-developed wideout becomes (by far) the highest-ceiling receiver paired with Daniel Jones, it looks like the Giants will give the long-scrutinized starter yet another shot. Passing on McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix, the Giants remain a Jones-centric operation. That would not have been the case had they been able to pry No. 3 overall from the Patriots.
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The Giants made a last-ditch attempt to climb from No. 6 to No. 3 for Maye, with the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard noting the NFC East team made a final offer while New England was on the clock. After de facto Patriots GM Eliot Wolf said the team was open to dealing No. 3, rumors surfaced pointing to the likelihood the rebuilding club would keep the pick. Hours before the draft, another report had the Patriots locked into Maye. The two-year North Carolina starter is now the Pats’ hope to start the Jerod Mayo era.
New England’s asking price was expected to be “exorbitant,” according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. Before the draft, a rumor indicated the Pats had received “laughable” offers for the No. 3 pick. It is unsurprising the Patriots set a high price here, as they had access to a coveted QB — thanks to their 4-13 record last season — without needing to trade up. They will hope the 6-foot-4 prospect can deliver what Mac Jones could not.
The New York end of this is more interesting, given the team’s Jones investment and Nabers choice. It appears clear the Giants — once closely linked to McCarthy — viewed a value gap between Maye and the Michigan alum. This also illustrates the last-chance season ahead for Jones, who did not impress — albeit while leading an injury-plagued offense — before going down with an ACL tear last year. The Giants can get out of the $40MM-AAV Jones deal for less than $12MM in dead money (via a post-June 1 cut transaction) in 2025, setting up a make-or-break season for the former No. 6 pick. Jones came through when last in this circumstance (in 2022), and the Giants’ Nabers move will better equip their QB this season.
Next year’s QB class is not viewed as on the level of this one, perhaps illustrating why the Giants made an aggressive push for Maye, whom the Vikings also pursued. McCarthy’s progress could haunt the Giants, but they will bet on their Nabers evaluation and hope it elevates Jones.
Has anyone put together a graphic of each round draft picks, by year, that reach expectations personal or team boosting? Then compare that with UDFA.
That I’d like to see as drafts appear to be such a crap shoot without Vegas hotels loaded dice!
Pats should have taken it. They’re in no position to develop a young QB right now with that awful roster.
Glad the Giants missed….kids not the answer……
Another reason they should have taken it is that the Giants will probably have another top 10 pick next year. Could have had Nabors plus two 1sts next year. Then again, maybe Maye turns out to be a superstar.