Why Mel Kiper Jr. Was So Surprised by Giants’ Move With No. 6 Pick in Draft

The ESPN NFL draft expert was surprised that the New York Giants opted to go with wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth pick.

The ESPN NFL draft expert explained why the Giants' selection of Malik Nabers was surprising to him. / Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Despite chatter of a potential trade up the board for a quarterback, the New York Giants stood pat with the sixth selection, picking LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers during the first round of the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night in Detroit.

The move surprised some, including ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., but not because New York didn't pull the trigger on a trade.

Kiper was surprised that New York, with the opportunity to take Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, passed on selecting a signal-caller after he had heard the franchise was interested in the position.

Mel Kiper Jr. was very surprised -- after what he'd been hearing for a couple of months -- that the New York Giants left the first round without a QB (particularly J.J. McCarthy).

The Giants selected electrifying LSU WR Malik Nabers at No. 6. 🏈 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/bSFqDksPZL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 26, 2024

"I kept hearing, 'Yeah, yeah, they're interested in a quarterback.' And they didn't have to move up. They sat at six and there's J.J. McCarthy. So I'm thinking, 'Ok, what have we been hearing, what's the chatter been for a couple months?' They didn't take McCarthy, Scott, they took the receiver Malik Nabers to help Daniel Jones, who they inherited," Kiper said.

Not only was Kiper surprised that the QB rumors surrounding New York didn't lead to a selection of a signal-caller, but also that Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen didn't jump at a golden opportunity to hand-pick their own franchise QB to groom.

Ultimately, New York decided to double down on current starter Daniel Jones for at least one more season, giving him the type of explosive weapon he's never had during his Giants tenure.