Did Giants' Joe Schoen give hint about rumored NFL Draft trade?

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen doesn't seem to be losing sleep over the thought of missing out on a top-tier quarterback prospect assuming signal-callers are selected with each of the first four picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

"People assume we’re going quarterback, but we have other needs," Schoen told NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated for a piece published Monday. "If the quarterbacks go 1–4 [in the draft order], then we’re getting the second-best position player, not quarterback, at [pick No. 6], which is OK, too. That player will really help us."

Analysts routinely suggest it's practically a guarantee the Chicago Bears will make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the draft's first pick on the night of April 25. The Washington Commanders (pick No. 2) and New England Patriots (No. 3) are expected to choose from signal-callers Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers and J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines. As recently as Monday, it was predicted in mock drafts that either the Giants or Minnesota Vikings could acquire the No. 4 pick from the Arizona Cardinals with a quarterback in mind. 

On paper, Minnesota has the advantage as it pertains to ammunition for such a deal. 

It was reported shortly after the scouting combine concluded that the Giants are "absolutely done" with 2023 Week 1 starting quarterback Daniel Jones after Jones struggled this past season before he suffered a torn ACL in November. Jones has also dealt with a pair of concerning neck-related issues since the fall of 2021.

It's now hardly a secret the Giants can escape Jones' contract after the 2024 season. 

While speaking with Breer, Schoen referenced the fact that Jones played behind some awful offensive lines across the first five seasons of his career. Per StatMuse, Jones has taken the third-most sacks in the NFL (179) since Week 1 of the 2019 campaign. 

"It was almost embarrassing the way we played on the offensive line," Schoen said about the 2023 Giants team that finished with a 6-11 record. "You can’t run a play. You really can’t get a true feel for Daniel when he’s on his back every play. There’s definitely a concerted effort to upgrade both fronts."

In a mock draft posted on Monday, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicted that the Giants will move down from pick No. 6 to ninth and then use that first-round asset to give Jones a new weapon in Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers. 

"New York needs to build out the roster," Baumgardner noted, "and Bowers would be a great place to start." 

Schoen understandably isn't revealing his plans for the final Thursday of April, but it sounds like he may agree with Baumgardner.