The New England Patriots had choices to commerce the No. 3 total decide, proper up till a number of hours earlier than the 2024 NFL draft, however it might have taken “one thing loopy” to get them to maneuver out of the spot that finally netted North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye.
Credit score the New York Giants for no less than attempting. They wished to make it occur within the worst of the way. It simply would have taken a “fairly vital” package deal for the Patriots to even flinch. And by vital, they meant a Ricky Williams-style cabinet of picks.
Normal supervisor Joe Schoen referred to as the Patriots at 3:32 p.m. ET on the afternoon of the draft’s first spherical and provided the Giants’ first-round decide (No. 6 total), a first-rounder in 2025 and one other decide this yr. It was not even near sufficient.
Patriots govt vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf did not flinch when offered with that supply. His reasoning? The Patriots wanted a quarterback!
This is how the dialog performed out on the most recent episode of “Laborious Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.”
Schoen: “You guys nonetheless listening [to offers]? You guys nonetheless making a choice? What do you suppose?”
Wolf: “I feel we’re fairly pleased with sitting right here choosing. However, once more, when you provide us [your first, second and third-round pick] this yr, [your first and second-round pick] subsequent yr …. I imply, I am exaggerating. However it is going to be one thing loopy like that.”
Schoen: “It might in all probability should be fairly vital. So, like a [first-round pick] this yr [obviously No. 6 this year], a [first-round pick] subsequent yr and one thing extra this yr is just not going to do it? It is acquired to be multiples in ’25?”
Wolf: “Um, we’re on this state of affairs the place we simply in all probability sit and decide a quarterback.”
Schoen: “Effectively if something adjustments and also you wished so as to add one thing on that to take a swing, let me know.”
And with that, the Giants’ goals of touchdown one of many high three quarterbacks had been gone. In addition they preferred Jayden Daniels sufficient to commerce up for him, however the LSU quarterback was a lock at that time to go No. 2 within the draft to the Washington Commanders.
So the Giants pivoted to discovering a playmaker for quarterback Daniel Jones. That they had contingency plans in case huge receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers had been chosen fourth and fifth. However because it panned out, New York took Nabers because the sixth total pick of LSU. Hardly a comfort contemplating he was the top-ranked huge receiver, in line with huge receivers coach Mike Groh.
It goes to indicate that the Patriots had been by no means actually going to commerce out of the highest three as a result of no person would have conceded what they had been asking for. ESPN’s Mike Reiss described it all through the method as solely an “unprecedented deal” would entice Wolf and New England.
The Giants had been monitoring the method for months. In a earlier episode of Laborious Knocks, Schoen was proven strolling over to the Patriots suite on the NFL scouting mix and telling Wolf to “hold me in thoughts” in the event that they had been going to make a commerce.
New York now has to therapeutic massage the state of affairs and make Jones — the present and oft-injured starter — really feel wished. Jones’ contract permits the group an inexpensive out after this season, ought to they be so inclined to pivot in that route.
It is exhausting to think about the Giants passing up that choice on condition that they’ve already checked out discovering Jones’ potential substitute. It could possibly be an fascinating and certain awkward yr in New York with each events realizing this occurred and it being broadcast for the world to see.
