The New York Giants were in the market for a quarterback earlier this offseason as they contemplated a future without Daniel Jones under center. Jones tore his ACL in Week 9 of last season, giving the G-Men’s front office hesitation to continue to commit to him as their franchise quarterback.
Instead, the Giants were eyeing a blockbuster trade into the top three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft to move up and select one of the class’s top quarterback prospects. Rumors of a trade negotiation were confirmed during last week’s episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks as Giants general manager Joe Schoen was captured discussing a potential trade with New England Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.
In the most recent episode of Hard Knocks, a preview for next week’s episode played, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come. Next week’s episode will focus on the Giants’ behind-the-scenes process during the 2024 NFL Draft and one clip from the preview revealed the team’s comfortability trading up for one of the class’s top quarterbacks.
Hard Knocks reveals the Giants were comfortable trading up for LSU QB Jayden Daniels
During the Hard Knocks clip, Schoen and his front office executives discussed the possibility of trading up for LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels in the first round of this year’s draft. Schoen asked head coach Brian Daboll about the possibility of a deal for Daniels, a possibility to which Daboll signed off:
Schoen asked, “[Jayden] Daniels, have you seen enough that you would trade up for him?”
“Daniels? Yeah. I would,” Daboll responded.
Ultimately, the Giants wound up sticking and picking at No. 6 overall, rather than pulling off the blockbuster trade to No. 3 overall that they were negotiating with the New England Patriots. It didn’t take long, meanwhile, for Daniels to come off the board.
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The Giants will need to prepare to face Daniels twice per year
Rather than trotting Daniels out onto the field with a blue helmet, the Giants’ royal blue caps will need to prepare to face Daniels twice per season. Their NFC East division-rival Washington Commanders selected Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, establishing him as their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Daniels brings a unique and versatile skill set to the table as an elite dual-threat quarterback. These skills could have been utilized in an exciting fashion by Daboll in the Giants. Instead, it will be the Giants’ new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen who will need to game plan to slow down Daniels and his explosive capabilities.
More information and footage regarding Big Blue’s interest in Daniels and the other top quarterbacks in the draft class will likely be revealed during next week’s episode of Hard Knocks. Next week’s episode is expected to focus heavily on the process behind the 2024 NFL Draft, potentially giving insight into the Giants’ failed trade-up and eventual selection of Daniels’s teammate and favorite weapon, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick.
