The second episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” premiered Tuesday. The episode gave fans an inside look at the team’s operations during the NFL Combine, including a whiteboard test by QB Drake Maye, who the Giants tried to trade up for in the draft.
Drake Maye wowed the Giants’ top brass with his ability to de-code advanced terminology
During the test, Maye seemed to impress New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen with his ability to recite complex play calls with ease, calling it “easy stuff.”
“Den dolphin right 72, tundra, float H-angle,” Daboll said to Maye, who quickly repeated the call without any errors.
Giants considered the possibility of trading up in the draft for Maye
From there, Daboll and Maye continued to go back and forth through advanced play call after advanced play call. The Giants’ brass seemed very impressed with the UNC quarterback and were highly considering trading up from No. 6 in the draft to get him. Maye would end up being drafted third overall by the New England Patriots.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels seemed to have a much harder time with the whiteboard test
On the contrary, the “Hard Knocks” episode also showed Daboll’s interview with LSU QB Jayden Daniels, who eventually was drafted second overall by a division rival in the Washington Commanders, whose interview with Big Blue didn’t look as though it went as smoothly as Maye’s.
While Maye seemed confident, and knowledgeable in his whiteboard test, Daniels struggled at times to pick up on Daboll’s lingo, having to be corrected multiple times.
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Giants GM had conversations with Patriots brass regarding the No. 3 pick
The Giants’ interest in Maye was real. At the Combine, Schoen had a brief conversation with Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf regarding a potential deal for the No. 3 pick.
“Do this for me, if you guys are going to do anything at three, like move out at all, you don’t have to tell me your plan or anything, but if you have any inkling, just call me,” Schoen said to Wolf.
Wolf then explained to Schoen that the team was unsure of its plan yet regarding the pick, which they would go on to keep, drafting Maye as their next QB of the future.
Despite the Giants’ efforts, Drake Maye is a New England Patriot, leaving New York with Daniel Jones for at least one more season. Given the team’s immense interest in drafting his replacement, Jones could be entering a now-or-never season in his sixth year with the Giants.
