According to NFL Media and Fox Sports contributor Peter Schrager, the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants are actively seeking to trade up in the NFL Draft to acquire North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. This move comes as ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Maye as the third-best quarterback prospect in the draft. Schrager stated, “I think Maye goes at No. 3, and I’m hearing that the Vikings and Giants are trying to get up.”
The possibility exists that the New England Patriots may trade back and select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy if they are not fully committed to Maye. This strategy would involve taking a risk, however. The Patriots possess a need for a quarterback, but Eliot Wolf, the team’s director of scouting, has indicated that they are open to trading down in the draft.
The Giants hold the sixth overall pick, while the Vikings possess two first-round selections (No. 11 and No. 23). This gives the Vikings an advantage in potential negotiations. If a trade is made with Minnesota, the Patriots could utilize these picks to address other areas of need, such as wide receiver or offensive tackle.
However, it could be more prudent for the Patriots to resist trade offers and select a quarterback directly. They traded former first-round pick Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. While New England signed Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8 million contract in free agency, he is likely viewed as a temporary solution. Should the Washington Commanders select LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick, Albert Breer, an NFL insider for Sports Illustrated, believes the Patriots will opt for Maye.
Even if the Vikings and Giants fail to acquire Maye, they may still pursue other quarterback options later in the draft. The draft class is regarded as deep, with numerous passers possessing the potential to succeed at the professional level, including Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina), and Michael Pratt (Tulane).
