Why Giants could again 'reach' for QB with pick No. 6

The New York Giants reportedly aren't all that interested in trading up into the top three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft to land any one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects in this year's class. 

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post noted that Giants general manager Joe Schoen hinted this week at the NFL scouting combine he could grab a signal-caller at pick No. 6. For a piece published on Thursday morning, both Mel Kiper Jr. and Jordan Reid of ESPN suggested that quarterback could be J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines. 

"He looks like everything an NFL team would want in a starting quarterback," Kiper said about McCarthy. "He has a great frame, tremendous arm and stellar physical tools, and he just turned 21 years old...I expect McCarthy (my QB4) to test extremely well during the on-field drills and to interview great in team meetings." 

Schoen acknowledged this week that the two neck injuries New York starting quarterback Daniel Jones dealt with over the past three seasons coupled with the torn ACL Jones suffered on Nov. 5 give the team's front office plenty to think about regarding the sport's most important position. Meanwhile, Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com and Kiper are among those who continue to predict that USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams, LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels won't be available for the Giants at the sixth selection. 

"I'm still hearing that J.J. McCarthy will be the fourth quarterback off the board," Reid explained. "NFL teams haven't been too afraid of the unknown when it comes to drafting QBs in recent years, and there are plenty of teams with mid-Round 1 grades on McCarthy that feel the run-heavy Michigan offense just means untapped potential." 

Schwartz wrote that Schoen taking McCarthy or any other to-be rookie in the so-called "second quarterback tier" could be seen as "a considerable reach." However, Reid mentioned that the Minnesota Vikings (pick No. 11), Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) could all be in the market for McCarthy on the draft's opening night. 

Kiper mocked McCarthy to the Broncos on Wednesday. 

The previous Giants regime "reached" for Jones at overall pick No. 6 in 2019, and he later won a road playoff start for the organization. If McCarthy's stock rises during and after the combine, as some expect, Schoen may feel he can't pass on the national champion.