Former MVP compares J.J. McCarthy to Giants legend

NFL analyst Boomer Esiason suggested during Tuesday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program that the New York Giants could be more interested in acquiring Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy during the 2024 draft than some think. 

"He fits 'the mold,'" Esiason said about a possible McCarthy-Giants marriage, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "Eli Manning. Daniel Jones. Kind of understated, definitely a leader, but not somebody who is going to be out there like Baker Mayfield was (with the Cleveland Browns). He’s not gonna be doing a million commercials or all that stuff. He’s not gonna embarrass the franchise." 

Whether or not Mayfield, the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, "embarrassed" Cleveland by participating in the "At Home" Progressive campaign during his time with the franchise is unknown to outsiders. What is clear is that those running the Browns in March 2022 simply believed they couldn't pass on the opportunity to trade with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. 

While Manning became a two-time Super Bowl MVP during his Giants tenure, Jones has recorded just one playoff victory since 2019. The Giants reportedly are ready to draft Jones' eventual replacement, as general manager Joe Schoen can escape the signal-caller's contract as soon as next offseason. 

Jones played poorly this past season before he suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 5. He's also missed a total of nine games since the start of the 2021 campaign because of neck injuries. 

Esiason wondered on Tuesday if Schoen could "get a couple assets" by trading down from overall draft pick No. 6 but still end up with McCarthy. The New England Patriots seemingly want some to believe they could select McCarthy with the draft's third choice, and Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports predicted in a mock draft published on Monday that New England will do just that. However, Jordan Reid of ESPN had McCarthy going to the Minnesota Vikings at selection No. 11 in a mock draft posted on Tuesday morning. 

While it was thought before the combine that Schoen taking a quarterback at No. 6 could be a "reach," that might not be the case by the time April 25 arrives.