Are the stars aligning for the NY Giants to select a quarterback early in the 2024 NFL Draft? It certainly seems that way. Reporting from the Combine, insider Mike Garafolo of NFL Network said he thinks there's a greater than 75 percent chance that the Giants take Daniel Jones' replacement in the first round.
Slated with the No. 6 overall selection, it's highly possible Michigan's J.J. McCarthy is the best quarterback available when the Giants pick. Some mock drafts have LSU's Jayden Daniels slipping all the way to six, but there are some analysts who'll tell you that Daniels could go as high as second overall.
That would entail North Carolina's Drake Maye sliding down the draft. Long expected to be the second QB taken behind Caleb Williams, Maye got Giants Nation buzzing at the Combine when he lauded Brian Daboll as one of the game's best offensive minds.
Drake Maye says Brian Daboll is "one of the best offensive minds" in the NFL pic.twitter.com/myMp70YqQQ
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) March 1, 2024
Drake Maye praising Brian Daboll should get Giants fans excited
That quote should send a clear message to Daboll and Joe Schoen. The Giants offense couldn't get out of its own way in 2023, but Daboll has worked wonders with young quarterbacks throughout his coaching career.
With the Bills, Josh Allen morphed into an elite gunslinger while Daboll was the offensive coordinator. It's no coincidence that Allen experienced slight regression the first year after Daboll departed for East Rutherford.
Daboll also helped Jones turn his career around. Jones obviously didn't perform well last season, but there's a lot baked into that, including the Giants having the worst offensive line play in the league. Jones is still just one season removed from leading the G-Men to a road playoff win against the Vikings.
Imagine what Daboll could do with Maye from the onset of his pro career. The former Tar Heel is considered one of the best QB prospects of the last 10 years. He can make any throw on the field, has the scrambling ability to navigate pressure and his ability to make off-script throws aligns perfectly with today's NFL.
One quote doesn't confirm Maye will slide to the Giants. It's still highly possible he goes second overall. That said, Maye's praise of Daboll could at least get folks in the building talking about a possible trade-up. A move to No. 2 overall will cost a king's ransom, but if Maye is there at three, four or five, Daboll and Schoen should stop at nothing to draft him.