Mel Kiper considers whether No. 6 pick is too high for Giants to target JJ McCarthy

With the final football game of the 2023-24 season out of the way, it is time for NFL Draft talk, which means a lot of discussion centered around a pretty solid quarterback class at the top.

Of course, when the actual play on the field ceases and the scouting of college players begins, no personality on the ESPN campus is more popular than Mel Kiper Jr., himself an institution of NFL Draft coverage. He’s buzzed around to several shows lately and stopped by GetUp on Wednesday morning in part to break down the New York Giants’ possibilities with the sixth pick.

Following a spirited debate over Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, GetUp host Mike Greenberg asked how soon after those two would Michigan’s JJ McCarthy get picked. Could he go as high as No. 6 to the Giants if NYG was looking for a fresh start under center? According to Kiper, such a move likely is not in the cards for New York.

“I’d be really surprised. I won’t say shocked, but really surprised that they would pass up Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers to help Daniel Jones, who I believe in,” said Kiper. He thinks it would be foolish to move off Daniels and waste a prime opportunity to help out what he believes is a franchise QB.

“Liked (Jones) when he came out, wasn’t critical of that pick. I’ve liked him throughout his career. To not go with a receiver to help Daniel Jones would make absolutely no sense to me,” the ESPN analyst added.

Kiper is simply high on Daniel Jones and a believer in this Giants squad if they can add that huge spark at wide receiver to inject some much-needed electricity into the offense.

“This team has a chance to be very much improved. You get a guy like Odunze or Nabers, Daniel Jones coming back from injury. Help this guy out! I mean, come on, this guy showed two years ago, like the old Bill Walsh comment: If he showed you he can be good, it’s up to the coaches and the organization to get the infrastructure around him. I am taking a receiver at No. 6 if I’m the New York Giants.”

JJ McCarthy could very well go in the top-10 but Mel Kiper Jr. just doesn’t see the need for New York to select him at No. 6. Instead, he likes one of those wideouts.