The last thing the New York Giants’ fan base wants to hear this week is Duke quarterback Daniel Jones’ name being called with the 6th overall pick in the NFL Draft.

That means that the Giants will have foregone many of the prime defensive studs in favor a quarterback that has had a lukewarm college career.

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY is hearing some rumblings that general manager Dave Gettleman, who has been cagey about his plans and has hinted the team may draft defense early in the draft, just might use that No. 6 pick instead to snare Jones.

“…there are a number of people around the NFL who just don’t believe him and think he’s preparing to take Duke quarterback Daniel Jones at No. 6. “That’s their guy,” an NFL source told SNY on Wednesday. “They love him and they have for a while. I can’t imagine they’ll wait until 17. He’s not likely to last that long.” In fact, multiple NFL sources have echoed that sentiment in conversations with SNY in recent days — that Jones is the Giants’ target and that waiting to take him until 17 would be risky. The Washington Redskins, at 15, are another team believed to be highly interested in the 6-5, 221-pound quarterback from Duke. Of course, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction in the days before the NFL Draft. And one team source told SNY it was still “more likely” they draft a defensive player at 6 (without commenting specifically on any interest they might have in Jones). There are also many variables at play, including the surprising sudden belief around the NFL that Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen — long projected a top-three pick — will fall into the Giants’ laps at 6.

That would be an ideal scenario for the Giants and their fans. Big Blue still has Eli Manning under contract and any rookie quarterback (or young veteran such as Josh Rosen) they bring in will sit behind Manning until his time is up – whenever that may be.

Meanwhile, the defense is barren of playmakers after purging themselves of safety Landon Collins, outside linebacker Olivier Vernon, defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison and cornerback Eli Apple over the past year.