NFL insider addresses Vikings, Giants NFL Draft trade rumors

NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants have been "the most active" teams as it pertains to possibly landing the third overall pick of the 2024 draft via a trade with the New England Patriots.

"The two teams, in my mind, that I've been able to ascertain that have been the most active calling up to No. 3 have been the Minnesota Vikings, No. 1, and I think second, if we're going to quantify it, is the New York Giants," Schefter explained, according to Julia Stumbaugh of Bleacher Report. "Those are two teams that have expressed an interest in moving up to No. 3."

The Vikings and Giants have repeatedly been mentioned as teams that could move up the draft order with a quarterback in mind. Multiple analysts suggested over the past week that Minnesota was the more likely of the two teams to get to pick No. 3 or No. 4. 

Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf said last week that the club is "open for business" regarding the third pick, but team insiders seem to believe Wolf will spend that asset on a quarterback unless the executive receives a so-called "Godfather offer" that includes more than three first-round selections. 

"It's going to take a lot, and so I don't know, ultimately, if New England is going to move off that pick," Schefter added. "New England may just stay right where it is. I still think the odds favor them staying where they are."

Schefter made it known earlier on Monday that "signs continue to point to" the Washington Commanders selecting LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick assuming the Chicago Bears draft USC star Caleb Williams first overall. Both Patriots beat writer Chris Mason of MassLive and Chad Graff of The Athletic predicted on Monday that New England will take North Carolina signal-caller Drake Maye with pick No. 3. 

The Vikings' "preference" reportedly is to get Maye because they allegedly "are absolutely in love with" him. However, it's also been said that Minnesota is "quite high on" Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. 

NFL insider Connor Hughes of SNY forecasted in his latest mock draft that the Giants will let the Vikings go from the 11th pick to selection No. 4 for McCarthy. Hughes also mocked New York staying at pick No. 6 so that Big Blue could take LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. 

Schefter told McAfee that the Vikings have shown "the most interest" in trading up for a quarterback. Patriots reporter Mark Daniels of MassLive wrote that New England may ask for overall picks No. 11 and No. 23 this year along with first-round selections in 2025 and 2026 from Minnesota for the third overall choice. 

On Monday afternoon, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic hinted that Patriots team president Jonathan Kraft could have a heavy say in what the club does with the draft's third pick. New England finished this past season at 4-13 and could trade that selection to acquire multiple assets needed for its ongoing rebuild.