NFL Draft Insider Convinced Giants are Biggest Threat to Foil Vikings’ Trade Up Plans

The worst-kept secret in the NFL is that the Minnesota Vikings are eyeing one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yet, scouting a prospect and actually landing them are two entirely different ball games.

If Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants to ensure he gets Kevin O’Connell a future franchise quarterback, odds are he’ll have to trade up in the first round of the NFL Draft. But as you know, the Vikings are not the only team hoping to solve their QB vacancy for the next ten-plus seasons.

One franchise that has been blowing a lot of smoke involving top quarterback prospects includes the New York Giants. Sure, Daniel Jones is the Giants’ starting QB, but he was also limited to just six games last season, and New York had one of the NFL’s worst offenses even when he was healthy. In other words, despite the G-Men signing Danny Dimes to a $160 million extension a year ago, it’s always possible they look to restart at the QB position.

New York Giants could foil Minnesota Vikings draft day plans…

Yet again, with the Giants holding the sixth pick in the NFL Draft, they may have to trade up to pick No. 4 or 5 to secure their desired franchise quarterback. While Caleb Williams will be selected first, whoever is left among Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy could appeal to the Giants.

Pro Football Focus’ lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema was recently asked a fascinating question. If the Cardinals are on the clock with the fourth pick and J.J. McCarthy is still on the board, which team would trade up?

Hopped on with @richeisen (@RichEisenShow) this afternoon to discuss the two teams I believe are the front runners for a trade up into the Top 5 for a QB: Vikings and Giants

A little more into why: pic.twitter.com/XJdag8sAW0

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) April 11, 2024

“I look at two teams in particular that have the opportunity to actually give Arizona a deal that they would take. The first one is the obvious one, and it’s the Minnesota Vikings at 11. Now if the Cardinals are comfortable moving all the way back from four to eleven, they can probably get No. 11, No. 23, and a little bit more than that.

But then the other team to me is the Giants. I think they’re gonna be pretty desperate to go up and get one of these quarterbacks. I think they’re going to give a pretty competitive deal to move up to four, well, they’re gonna talk to the Patriots at three, but I think they’re going to give a pretty competitive deal for three, four or five, whenever a quarterback is still on the board, because I think they desperately want to upgrade. I really do believe that. They of course can offer one of those teams something the Vikings cannot. And that is, a pick in the top-six, and that has a heavy value.”

PFF’s Trevor Sikkema on Giants/Vikings’ interest in J.J. McCarthy

Related: Which Teams are Most Likely to Steal the Vikings’ Top QB Target in NFL Draft?

Sikkema is convinced that the Giants are seeking a new quarterback, but then what happens with Daniel Jones? Keep in mind that the Giants are like the Cardinals and Patriots in that they also need a top playmaking receiver. Adding another quarterback won’t fix that, and losing the valuable draft capital needed to trade up won’t help them solve their needs later, either.

However, the Giants have seemingly done just as much due diligence on top quarterback prospects as the Vikings have, meeting with Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, and Drake Maye, among others. It’s very possible Sikkema nailed it here, but if so, then the Vikings better be prepared to make a trade offer too good to refuse if McCarthy or another top prospect is still on the board at No. 4 when the Cardinals are on the clock.

Related: Florio Wonders if Vikings are Waiting for Pick-Swap Tampering Reward from Falcons