NFL Draft countdown: Focus on Giants' first-round pick at No. 6

The 2024 NFL Draft is only six days away. 

The New York Giants pick sixth this year. With holes all over their roster, moves up or down the draft board are not off the table.

Here is who the experts are projecting Big Blue to select at No. 6.

Yahoo Sports' Connor Hughes: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

In Hughes’ scenario, the Giants move up two spots to get a Michigan man at No. 4, sending Arizona their first and third-round picks in 2024 and a second-round selection in 2025.

Hughes doesn’t think the Wolverines’ quarterback will last until the sixth spot and believes this trade should eliminate competition for the Cardinals’ pick.

“Now it’s hard to foresee any situation where he’s there at No. 6," Hughes wrote. "The Vikings, like the Giants, are interested in drafting a quarterback. The Giants must be aggressive if they want their new franchise quarterback. This trade is that.”

McCarthy took an aggressive approach by choosing to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine while quarterbacks like USC’s Caleb Williams and UNC’s Drake Maye sat out. His strong performance improved his draft stock. Before the combine, some saw the national champion as a late- first, early second-round pick.

The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner: Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia

New York tried to upgrade the tight end position by trading for Darren Waller last offseason.

This year, Baumgardner has the team trading down three spots for Bowers while gaining a pair of mid-round picks from the Bears:

“If the Giants want to be aggressive and add a young QB this year, that’s fine. However, the new guy would have the same problem Daniel Jones has: There’s not enough help. New York needs to build out the roster, and Bowers would be a great place to start.”

Bowers caught 26 TDs in three years at Georgia with five more on the ground. At 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, he’s drawn comparisons to 49ers’ All-Pro George Kittle. The Giants haven’t had an All-Pro tight end since Jeremy Shockey in 2002, and with Waller pondering retirement, Bowers plus picks makes sense for New York.

NFL.com's Maurice Jones-Drew: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

Does Jones-Drew know something we don’t? He has the Giants standing pat at No. 6 but taking Penix much sooner than many think he’ll go:

“Despite Penix's injury history, the Giants feel good about the Heisman runner-up's arm strength, vision and ability to get through his progressions," Jones-Drew explained. "The Washington product will compete with incumbent starter Daniel Jones in an effort to get Big Blue's offense back on track under Brian Daboll.”