4 NFL Draft regrets that could haunt the NY Giants in 2024
The NY Giants were in the middle of multiple rumors before the NFL Draft, but general manager Joe Schoen stayed put and selected wideout Malik Nabers in the first round. Big Blue had five other selections in the draft, some of which were lauded by the public and others that raised questions among the fanbase.
It stands to reason that the roster is flawed after a disappointing 6-11 finish to the previous season. There were several things that NY had to address in the draft, and they did a good job in some aspects. However, Schoen also made some bold moves that he might regret in the future if they don't work out. With that being said, here are four decisions the Giants made during the draft that could come back to haunt them:
4. Not trading up or drafting a new QB1
The question that was on the mind of every Giant fan heading into the draft was whether Schoen would stay put at No. 6 or trade up with the New England Patriots to land Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick. Rumors of Maye to the Giants began to arise, but NY could not strike a draft day deal and wound up selecting Nabers at No. 6 overall.
As Daniel Jones enters the second season of his four-year, $160 million extension, the pressure is on him to perform. He played six games in 2023 before tearing his ACL and missing the remainder of the year. However, he was less than impressive in the games he did compete in, throwing 909 yards for two TDs and six interceptions, leading Big Blue to a 1-5 record.
There is no denying how talented Nabers is. The 6-0 speedster was one of the most electrifying players in college football last year, but will there be an issue getting him the ball? Jones has thrown just 17 TDs in his past 22 regular season games, so there are concerns about the player throwing to him.
Not only did Schoen not trade up to land Maye, but he also passed up an opportunity to draft J.J. McCarthy. Granted, there are uncertainties about how he projects as an NFL QB, but the same can be said about many players. Even after taking a WR in Round 1, five rounds passed and the Giants still exited the draft without a later-round QB like Spencer Rattler.
While Nabers should still receive his fair share of targets, it might not be enough for an NY offense that ranked 30th in the NFL last year and lost Saquon Barkley in the offseason. The Giants might regret attacking skill positions before taking a QB in the draft and sticking with a questionable signal-caller.