Why Giants should avoid trading up for QB in 2024 NFL Draft

The Giants make a bold trade in NFL insider Peter Schrager's mock draft released on Tuesday, a move the front office should resist making in real life.

Schrager's mock draft is based on intel he's received throughout the league, so there's some truth in New York's interest in moving up.

He has the front office sending Nos. 6 and 70 in the 2024 NFL Draft, plus its 2025 second-rounder, to the Cardinals for No. 4 overall, which it uses to draft former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

New York has question marks throughout its roster, and adding a rookie quarterback won't answer them.

The team lacks top-end talent at the skill positions. Running back Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles in free agency, and New York filled the major loss with a minor signing of journeyman back Devin Singletary.

New York also neglected to improve at wide receiver this offseason, and won't be able to add premium talent via the draft if it trades up for a quarterback.

The Giants have concerns along their offensive line despite improving the unit's depth with the free-agency signings of guard Jon Runyan and tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. New York needs more from recent draft picks center John Michael Schmitz Jr. and tackle Evan Neal, who were among the worst at their positions last season.

The team must also address its secondary and depth on the defensive line behind two-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence.

The Giants would be better off keeping their draft capital, which could be used to fill out their roster. Plus, New York might not even need to trade up to select McCarthy.

Unless a team such as the Vikings or Broncos sends even more to the Cardinals, Arizona could easily stay at No. 4 and select a wide receiver to pair with quarterback Kyler Murray.

The Chargers aren't in the market for a quarterback, so if McCarthy drops past No. 4, he'll be available at No. 6.

The Giants are seemingly ready to move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, so it makes sense for them to be interested in trading up for his replacement. But New York would do a rookie quarterback a disservice by adding him to a roster with potential weak spots along the offense line and skill positions.

We saw last year in Carolina with Bryce Young what a young quarterback looks like with inadequate talent around him. New York shouldn't want to follow that path, but by trading up for McCarthy, it might.