Drake Maye was almost a New York Giant.
Drake Maye's second year as a New England Patriot was historic. The 2024 third-overall pick had a run that rivaled that of a certain other quarterback by the name of Tom Brady.
Maye's rookie season showed many glimmers of talent, and the organization made the right call on drafting him before anyone else snatched him up.
It's almost unbelievable to think that at one point, Maye was fair game for just about any team to pick, and if they were to do that, who knows what sort of situation said team would be in right now?
The Patriots came off a 4-13 season in 2023 before drafting Maye and had their sights set on him after the Mac Jones fallout. The New York Giants were 6-11, and they were breathing down the Pats' neck with the draft order.
Most notably, the Giants made an aggressive offer to the Patriots of multiple draft picks plus a 2025 first-round pick so they could have the third overall pick and make a move on Maye.
Still don't think the Giants were gung-ho on the UNC graduate. Take a look at the clip below.
Maye's predraft meeting with then-head coach Brian Daboll and other representatives of the Giants' coaching staff and front office seemingly went well. The synergy there seems to be clicking on both sides.
Daboll was familiar with conveying information to players, especially great players who played in New England. From 2000 to 2006, he started as a defensive assistant under Bill Belichick with the Patriots, then became the wide receivers coach. Then would return to be the tight ends coach from 2012 to 2016. He was key in developing players like Rob Gronkowski to elite status.
The clip above is also a glimpse of the pressure-cooker draft prospects have to go through when meeting with teams. Especially the knowledge needed in a young quarterback when sitting down with coaches.
It's wild to think about parallel universes and what could have been if the Patriots had said yes to the Giants and given away their pick and then their shot at a Super Bowl a mere two years later.
Imagine what would have happened to the Giants if they got Maye and where they would be right now.
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