Drake Maye Draft Rumors: Vikings 'More Desperate, More Anxious to' Trade Than Giants

The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings are pegged as teams that are interested in trading up to select a quarterback in Thursday's NFL draft, but it sounds like one team has more of a sense of urgency than the other.

ESPN's Adam Schefter explained on Wednesday's episode of Get Up that the prospect of moving up to draft North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye interests both the Giants and Vikings, but Minnesota appears to be more likely to make the leap into the top three to select him.

"Here's the issue. The Giants would have to trade up to get to No. 3. I don't think Drake Maye is going to be on the board at No. 4, so No. 4 becomes a moot point, and I think it limits the Cardinals leverage some. So, we're talking about No. 3, and Minnesota is also going to want to get up," Schefter said. "And which is the more desperate quarterback team? Minnesota or New York? I would say Minnesota. Which is the team that has an extra first-round draft choice? Minnesota. So, Minnesota is better armed, more desperate than the Giants at No. 6."

The Vikings are equipped with the No. 11 and No. 23 picks in the first round after an offseason trade with the Houston Texans. Minnesota is hoping to find a quarterback of the future following the departure of longtime starter Kirk Cousins, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano also reported Wednesday that the Vikings have been working the phones with teams in the top 10, and the New England Patriots, who hold the No. 3 pick, were "among the teams they've called."

"I think they pull it off," an AFC executive said about Minnesota moving up to secure a passer. "They've probably been the most active team as far as potentially moving up."

However, Fowler added, "The belief among some team executives I've spoken to is that Minnesota doesn't want to part with both of its first-round picks in a trade, which makes a major move up an arduous task." It's also unclear "on whether Minnesota's target would be Maye or [J.J. McCarthy] or someone else."

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered early in the 2023 season. While he signed a four-year, $160 million contract with New York just a year ago, there is no guaranteed money remaining on his deal after the 2024 campaign. The Giants would be smart to try to find his replacement in this year's deep quarterback draft class, but Schefter reiterated that the Vikings view trading up as a top priority more so than New York.

"I think the Giants have done a ton of work into the quarterbacks but it feels like they would take a quarterback if it worked out for them in the right situation. I don't know that they're going to take this big swing at a quarterback when they have these other needs as well, and they already paid Daniel Jones a year ago," Schefter said. "Could it happen? Absolutely, that's part of the fascination of the draft. But the Vikings are better armed, more desperate, more anxious to make that move. We'll see whether the Giants can figure out a way to get in front of them, or New England, to take Drake Maye. But I think the signs point to Drake Maye going No. 3 right now, so the Giants would have to get there."