Giants, Bills had draft day contingency trade in place

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen was very active during the 2023 NFL draft, moving up twice via trades to secure the players he coveted.

Schoen did just that, putting together packages to move up in Rounds 1 and 3 to select cornerback Deonte Banks and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, respectively.

“If you want it and you have the resources to get it, go get it,” Schoen told reporters. “I’ve been on the other side of that when you’re sitting there kicking yourself for not doing something and you don’t like the subsequent result from not doing what you could have done.”

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Schoen came to the Giants two winters ago from Buffalo, where he served as Brandon Beane’s assistant. Beane has a history of moving up in the draft to get his players. He did that again this year, sending his first- (No. 27) and fourth-round picks (No. 130) to Jacksonville to jump Dallas at No. 26 to take Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid.

That was after Schoen and Beane had an understanding that the Giants would move back from 25 to 27 but Schoen undercut that plan by moving up to 24 after getting spooked that things were getting “pretty tense” and their draft board was “getting depleted.”

Beane then had to deal with Jacksonville, who had flipped picks with the Giants. They were willing to do so, allowing Beane to land Kincaid. The Jaguars ended up choosing Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison at No. 27 and Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy with pick No. 130.

Schoen would pull the trigger on another trade in Round 3. This time for Hyatt, a first-round talent who was tumbling down the draft order.

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With the help of head coach Brian Daboll, Schoen managed to swing a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to move up to No. 73 to get the speedy Tennessee star.

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Story originally appeared on Giants Wire