It’s common knowledge that New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen tried desperately to move into the top three spots in the 2024 NFL draft to select one of the elite quarterback prospects in the class.
The Bears, who had the top pick, were locked into USC’s Caleb Williams and were not budging. The Washington Commanders were taking LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick and would not be doing business, either, especially with a division rival.
That left the New England Patriots at No. 3. Schoen continued to work with Pats general manager Eliot Wolf, but found out that he was also unwilling to yield, as we saw in a key scene from HBO’s Hard Knocks.
The player the Patriots were sold on was UNC quarterback Drake Maye, a player Schoen was willing to give up a massive package for, but couldn’t convince Wolf to make a trade. Instead, the Giants stayed at No. 6 and ended up with LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
Things eventually shook out for both GMs, but it would take a year. Maye went through the common growing pains last year as a rookie, but has now jettisoned to stardom in Year 2. The Giants would land Jaxson Dart in this year’s year’s draft.
Everyone is happy with the trade that never went down.
From the New York Post:
The Patriots had to fend off some massive trade offers before drafting Drake Maye.
During an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer said a pair of teams came calling with a long list of draft capital in an attempt to take the North Carolina product No. 3 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“So the Vikings offered them the 11th pick, the 23rd pick, a 2025 first-round pick,” Breer said during the radio hit. “So they were offered three first-round picks and then pick swaps later on. And then the Giants offered their first-round pick, which was sixth. So they would only have to move down three spots. Then their 2025 first-round pick. Then, I believe, a third-round pick.”
The Giants are glad Wolf didn’t pull the trigger on this deal. Had he agreed, the Giants wouldn’t have Nabers, Dart, or linebacker Abdul Carter, whom they took at No. 3 overall this year.
New England is pleased as well. They are 4-2 to start this season, with Maye being one of the main reasons. He is fifth in the NFL with 1,522 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions. His 112.5 passer rating ranks fourth among NFL starters.
The Vikings ended up selecting Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, who they hope will become their franchise quarterback. He missed his rookie season with a knee injury and is out of action again after two games this year with an ankle injury.