In the moments leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the New York Giants found themselves at a pivotal crossroads. After the season was defined by inconsistency at quarterback and an offense struggling to establish its identity. The franchise entered the draft season desperately searching for long-term stability. The search brought them to North Carolina star Drake Maye.
The highly touted quarterback whose arm talent, poise, and leadership had scouts buzzing across the league. What’s emerged since draft night, ultimately reshaping the entire story: Maye reportedly delivered a “perfect” combine meeting with then head coach Brian Daboll and the Giants staff. According to those close to the process, the interview was not only impressive, but it was one of the best any team had seen.
Maye’s understanding of pro concepts, his command of the whiteboard, and his natural presence reportedly left Daboll and the Giants’ brass stunned. So much so that the New York made a bold, franchise-altering offer to move up and get him.
The Giants reportedly offered the New England Patriots three first-round picks in exchange for the opportunity to draft Maye. For an organization that traditionally guards its draft capital, that type of offer is extremely rare. A clear indicator of how highly they valued the UNC quarterback. Yet, New England declined, staying firm at No.3 and selecting Maye themselves, signaling a full rebuild centered on the young leader.
Alternate Timeline for the Giants and Patriots
In this imaginable scenario, if the Patriots had accepted the Giants’ offer, Maye would’ve entered New York as the clear quarterback of the future. Stepping into the franchise, the Giants were hungry for his skillsets. Daboll, known for developing quarterbacks and maximizing their strengths, saw Maye as the kind of talent he could mold into a franchise cornerstone. Similar to his earlier work in Buffalo with former MVP Josh Allen.
A Daboll-Maye pairing could have dramatically altered the franchise’s trajectory:
- A new offensive identity: With Maye’s deep-ball accuracy and natural playmaking ability, the Giants’ offense would have had the explosiveness it has long lacked.
- Stability at quarterback: The debate around Daniel Jones’s future would have ended overnight, shifting long-term planning around Maye’s developmental timeline.
- A strengthened coaching situation: Daboll, armed with a handpicked quarterback prospect, may have faced less pressure and more time to build a sustainable system.
Wishful Thinking for the Giants
The Giants’ pursuit of Maye was aggressive, rare, and revealing. They saw in him not just potential, but the kind of quarterback who could redefine a franchise. While New England declined the blockbuster offer, the “What If” remains one of he most compelling alternate histories in recent Giants memory.
Maye is now the Patriots’ future, but in another universe, the Giants could’ve been one trade away. He could have been the centerpiece of a new era in New York.