Analyst's mock draft predicts blockbuster trade lands Drake Maye for New York Giants

If the New York Giants aim to secure a top quarterback in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft, they may find themselves in the position of having to make a significant trade to achieve their goal.

Forecasts suggest that the top three quarterbacks will likely be selected within the first three picks, with a fourth anticipated to go within the top five, likely through a trade-up maneuver.

In the most recent mock draft authored by NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein, this precise scenario unfolds, albeit with an unexpected twist.

As the draft unfolds, four quarterbacks are chosen consecutively within the first four picks, two of which are the result of trade-ups. Surprisingly, one of these coveted quarterbacks ends up with the Giants, who manage to sway the New England Patriots from pursuing their intended rookie quarterback.

Ultimately, the Giants secure North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, a prospect that some critics argue possesses the most flaws among the projected top five quarterbacks.

However, the acquisition comes at a significant cost, as noted by Zierlein.

“In this three-spot move up the board, the Giants probably have to pay more than the standard trade chart would indicate, since the supply side of the quarterback position is dwindling but the demand remains high. Brian Daboll fostered Josh Allen’s raw talents in Buffalo and could have a chance to do the same with this toolsy but inconsistent North Carolina product.”

Though the specifics of this trade are not delineated, according to the Jimmy Johnson draft trade value chart, the Giants would need to bridge a gap of 600 points. This implies relinquishing picks No. 6 (valued at 1,600), No. 47 (valued at 430), and No. 70 (valued at 240) in exchange for pick No. 3 (valued at 2,200).

The price tag attached to Drake Maye is substantial, and it’s conceivable that in the event of competing offers from other teams, the New York Giants might be compelled to pay an even steeper price.