Giants GM Joe Schoen Made Jaguars GM Trent Baalke a Promise During 2023 NFL Draft Trade

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke required certain assurances before making a trade with the Giants.

Few teams were as busy on the first night of the 2023 NFL Draft as the Jacksonville Jaguars, who moved down twice -- and even considered doing so a third time -- before selecting Oklahoma offensive tackle Anton Harrison at No. 27 overall.

The Jaguars were initially set to be on the board at No. 24 overall and, in hindsight, it seems like Harrison would have been their selection if they stayed put. Instead, though, the Jaguars moved down one spot to No. 25, trading with the New York Giants and picking up the No. 160 and No. 240 picks. 

In a draft night video released by the Giants, we get a bit of background on what went into the Jaguars' decision to move back from No. 24. For starters, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke wanted assurances that the Giants and general manager Joe Schoen weren't going to take his guy.

POV: You're Joe Schoen in the Giants Draft Room

"Giants Life: The Process" 🎥: https://t.co/xQt67UTLnb pic.twitter.com/t6gf6iW75j

— New York Giants (@Giants) May 18, 2023

In the video, Schoen can be seen discussing potential scenarios in which Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks would go off the board. After expressing concern that the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs could move up for the cornerback, Schoen made a deal -- and a promise -- with Baalke.

"Hey Trent. You still interested?" Schoen asked Baalke in the video. "You've got my word, it's defense."

Schoen and the Giants went on to take Banks, while the Jaguars then moved from No. 25 to No. 27 after Bills general manager Brandon Beane made a similar promise to Baalke not to take Harrison.

"That was one of the things that coach [Head Coach Doug Pederson] and I talked about as the thing was unfolding. We knew we didn't want to make any big moves back, but when the opportunity came to move one back, pick up some draft capital, move two back, it was just too good a situation for us based on the way the board sat at the time," Baalke said after the Jaguars selected Harrison. 

"Then, when it got to the point where we made the pick, we just felt there was too much risk in going any further back. We had some opportunities, like I said earlier, to move back again.”