New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings reportedly tried to trade up to 3 for Drake Maye
The Patriots quickly made Drake Maye their newest franchise quarterback, taking him No. 3 in the NFL Draft. But at least two teams tried to trade for the pick.
ESPN reported Tuesday that both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants made offers to move up in last Thursday’s draft.
The Vikings were desperate for a quarterback, given that they lost starter Kirk Cousins in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons. They owned two first round picks — at No. 11 and 23 — and wanted to package them for one really good selection.
Meanwhile, the Giants were kicking the tires on taking a quarterback, although the team was a year removed from giving Daniel Jones a hefty contract extension. They owned the sixth pick.
Patriots turned down lucrative offers to select Maye
ESPN reported that the Giants offered their pick at No. 6, plus a first-round selection next year, for No. 3. Meanwhile, the Vikings wanted to give the Patriots both their first-round picks this year, along with one next year. They asked New England to send them their No. 3, along with two mid-round selections.
The Patriots turned down both requests. It seemed they’d already settled on Maye the month before after attending his Pro Day in North Carolina.
“There were different points throughout the process where there were [offers],” Patriots director of scouting Elliot Wolf told ESPN. “All along, we knew we were in a unique opportunity to get a quarterback that we liked.”
Nine members of the Patriots staff attended Maye’s Pro Day in Chapel Hill, N.C. It was the day after Jayden Daniels showed off for scouts at the LSU Pro Day in Baton Rouge.
The Patriots were thorough in their visit.
“They all sat down and interviewed Drake separately,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown told ESPN. “I wasn’t involved in those interviews — I don’t think that’s my place; I think kids need to be able to sit down with the coach and share whatever they need to share. [Drake] had said it went really well.”
Now, let’s circle back to the draft. After trying to trade up for a quarterback, the Giants kept their sixth pick. And rather than opting for a quarterback like J.J. McCarthy or even Michael Penix Jr., NYC picked LSU receiver Malik Nabers. He’ll give Jones lots of help on offense.
Although the Patriots shut them down, the Vikings still pulled off a trade. Minnesota swapped spots with the Jets and selected Vikings selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. And they still weren’t finished wheeling and dealing. They exchanged spots with the Jaguars, sending the No. 23 pick to Jacksonville in return for No. 15. And with that pick, the Vikings selected Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.