Tag: joe schoen

Giants may recalibrate free agent approach with higher-than-expected cap

The news last week that the NFL was raising the salary cap to $255.4 million per club this season (up from $228.4 million in 2023) was music to many general manager’s ears.

For New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen, that gives him additional ammunition to attack his many roster needs this spring.

The Giants will have an estimated $39 million in available cap space when the NFL new year begins on March 13.

Scheon told reporters at the NFL Combine on Tuesday that the raise was a ‘pleasant surprise’ and he will recalibrate their finances to see how it affects their offseason plans.

The Giants have two major contract decisions coming up in the next two weeks — running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney — who are eligible for free agency this spring.

It looks like they might have to slap the franchise or transition tag on at least one of these players if they can’t get them under contract by the March 5 deadline. That’s where the extra money is going to come in handy.

Barkley will cost around $12-13 million to franchise tag again while McKinney will cost $17 million to franchise and $13.8 million to transition tag.



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9 questions New York Giants GM Joe Schoen must answer at NFL Combine

The 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana gets underway on Tuesday, February 27 as teams and prospects begin to arrive for the “Underwear Olympics.”

Although on-field drills don’t officially begin until Thursday, press conferences are lined up to start the week. 26 of the league’s 32 general managers will speak, including New York Giants GM Joe Schoen.

Schoen will take the podium on Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET and he’ll have a boatload of questions that need answering.

Here’s a look at nine topics Schoen must address.

Note: Giants head coach Brian Daboll is one of 12 coaches who is not slated to conduct a formal interview.

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Schoen has remained openly committed to quarterback Daniel Jones but how much of that is just lip service? The GM often gives very carefully thought-out comments that lack any real substance.

This is a chance for NFL reporters to pin Schoen down and ask him point-blank: Do you still believe in DJ as much as you did when you gave him a four-year, $160 million contract? Yes or no?

The questioning will have to be firm and direct or Schoen will skirt it by turning it into a conversation about Jones’ torn ACL and whether or not he’ll be ready to start the season.

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There have been multiple reports suggesting that Schoen jumped on the headset for a few games last season as the relationship between Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale deteriorated.

That’s not an uncommon practice for general managers but the timing of it certainly raises some eyebrows.

This is a chance to ask Schoen why he did that after Jay Glazer’s report and what he learned about Daboll’s relationship with the other coordinators and assistants during that time.

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It’s a public reality that Daboll and Martindale clashed. It’s undeniable and something Schoen must be pressed on. Simply wishing Martindale well without an explanation of what happened is unacceptable.

Schoen needs to elaborate on how the relationship deteriorated and why there were additional reports of conflict with other coordinators and assistants.

Does Schoen believe Daboll has to change how he interacts with people? Does the coach bear any responsibility for the fallout(s)?

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Speaking of clashes, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was reportedly willing to leave the Giants for a lateral move due to his deteriorating relationship with Daboll and the likelihood that he’ll be stripped of play-calling duties.

Asking Schoen who will call plays will result in a circular answer: “That’s a decision Daboll will make.”

Instead of asking Schoen who will call plays, the GM should be asked if he, personally, believes Kafka should continue calling plays in 2024. If yes, why? If not, also why?

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We already know that Schoen will say he wants running back Saquon Barkley to remain with the Giants. We also already know that the two sides will negotiate, the GM will do what’s best for the Giants, and yadda, yadda, yadda.

What do you believe is the market value for Barkley? Is it greater now that the salary cap ceiling was set much higher than anyone anticipated? Is it equal to or less than the value you placed on Barkley a season ago? Does another injury reduce his value in your mind?

It’s been more than a year of the same exact answers when it comes to Barkley. It’s time to take a different approach to the questioning.

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Schoen said he wanted safety Julian Love to remain with the Giants a season ago but he never really fought hard to keep the captain. The GM put a line in the sand and stuck with it just as he did with Barkley.

Will safety Xavier McKinney be given that same treatment? Is he a top-end safety the team needs to keep or is he another interchangeable piece?

The franchise tag is likely out of the question, but would Schoen be willing to use the transition tag? And if so, will it be more than just a show to appease McKinney’s fans?

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Two years ago, Schoen said one of his first orders of business would be drilling down into the injury data and finding out why the Giants are routinely among the league leaders in man games lost.

After two seasons with the Giants still among the NFL’s most-injured teams, what has Schoen discovered? What is being done to avoid this problem and what additional changes are expected in 2024?

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Schoen is undoubtedly open to trading down in the 2024 NFL draft but what about up? Whether it’s for a quarterback or another position, are the depth-lacking Giants willing to surrender additional draft capital to target a specific player? What is the risk/reward of trading up with so many personnel needs?

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One of the biggest issues facing the Giants this offseason is — and stop us if you’ve heard this before — their offensive line.

They already need two starting guards and plenty of depth, but what do they do with Evan Neal? He has not performed well at right tackle and for every one step forward, he takes two steps back.

Is it time to pull the plug? Should Neal be moved inside to guard?

If Schoen refuses to discuss moving Neal to guard and continues to express faith in him as a right tackle, he should be asked how much longer that leash is. What does he need to see before making a change at RT?

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Giants positioned to make progress during 2024 offseason

It’s been an ugly offseason for the New York Giants to date but that doesn’t necessarily mean the trend will continue. With their coaching staff now stabilized, the Giants enter free agency and the 2024 NFL draft relatively well-stocked with capital.

Currently, general manager Joe Schoen has around $21.8 million to work with and he could clear as much as $60 million will several precise cuts and restructures.

Then, in April’s draft, Schoen and the Giants will have seven picks to work with, including four in the top 70 (three in the top 50).

While that’s not enough to shore up all of their issues, it is enough to breed some level of optimism. At least in the mind of USA TODAY’s Nate Davis, who recently named the Giants one of “10 NFL teams positioned to make major progress during 2024 offseason.”

A team looking to get to top of the NFC East may have to do so without free agent RB Saquon Barkley. The Giants, who need to get QB Daniel Jones right in 2024, currently have roughly $19 million to spend in free agency, pick sixth overall and own an extra second-rounder after dealing DL Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks at last year’s trade deadline.

Considering the amount of negative press the Giants have received this offseason, it has to feel refreshing for fans to see a positive take, albeit it a small one.

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New York Giants land WR, QB in latest mock draft by The 33rd Team

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top of the order for the 2024 NFL draft had been set with the New York Giants slated to pick sixth overall.

Despite recent mock drafts trending toward the Giants taking a wide receiver at No. 6 overall, speculation about general manager Joe Schoen taking a quarterback persists.

In the latest mock draft from Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team, the Giants get the best of both worlds, starting with a stud wide receiver.

With the sixth pick, the Giants select LSU’s Malik Nabers with the top three quarterbacks and Marvin Harrison off the board.

In most drafts, Malik Nabers would be the clear-cut No. 1 WR and a lock to be a top-five pick. But in this draft, he’s not even the second pass-catcher off the board. But the New York Giants get a steal at No. 6 with Nabers, who isn’t that far off from Marvin Harrison Jr. in the class. Nabers can be a bonafide No. 1 receiver for New York, which it has been missing since trading away Odell Beckham Jr. 

In Round 2, the Giants select Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (39th overall) followed by Houston offensive tackle Patrick Paul (47th overall).

The Giants, of course, acquired the 47th pick from the Seattle Seahawks in a trade for Leonard Williams.

A receiver like Nabers could certainly be the focal point of the Giants’ offense, especially if they choose to move on from running back Saquon Barkley and/or tight end Darren Waller.

While it’s uncertain how the selection of Nix would impact Daniel Jones in 2024, conventional logic suggests he’d eventually take over as the starter.

Selecting Paul, however, would signify either giving up on Evan Neal or moving him to the inside to play guard.

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Giants likely to use second pick on a quarterback?

In public, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll remain committed to and confident in quarterback Daniel Jones.

However, in private, the regime may be regretting their decision to sign DJ to a four-year, $160 million contract.

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, during a recent appearance on Talkin’ Giants with Bobby Skinner and Justin Penik, shared his insight.

“I don’t believe, from my sources, that they view Daniel Jones the same way that they viewed him at this time last offseason when it was like, ‘we can not lose Daniel Jones.’ Do I think there’s a chance he’s still QB1 going into next season? Yeah, I do,” Dunleavy said.

But that does not mean the Giants don’t intend to address the position. Schoen has been transparent about their needs at quarterback with Jones coming off a torn ACL and Tyrod Taylor likely hitting free agency.

They could sign a veteran in free agency but Dunleavy believes they’ll also select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, albeit with their second pick and not necessarily No. 6 overall.

“I think there’s a very good chance that they use their second pick, whether that’s a second-round pick or trade-up to a second first-round pick, I do think there’s a chance that’s what they end up doing at quarterback,” Dunleavy said. “And then you’re looking at the J.J. McCarthy’s, Michael Penix’s, Bo Nix (or) someone like that after picking a Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers at six.”

However things play out, expected Jones to face stricter competition for the starting job in 2024 than he has previously.

“I do think there will be competition for Daniel Jones one way or the another,” Dunleavy.

Ultimately, Dunleavy believes, the decision at quarterback will provide the blueprint for the Giants’ plans for Schoen and Daboll moving forward.

If owners John Mara and Steve Tisch allow them to take a quarterback at No. 6 overall, it indicates they’re not on the hot seat and will remain until at least 2025. But if they are on the hot seat — and Dunleavy believes they are — it makes no sense for the Giants to take a quarterback at No. 6 and then force that player on an incoming regime a year later should things crumble again next season.

A lot can change between now and the draft, but how the Giants approach the quarterback situation in free agency and then the draft will tell you a lot about how ownership sees things playing out and how much faith Schoen and Daboll actually have in Jones.

If Schoen and Daboll have job security, Dunleavy could even see them trading up for a quarterback in Round 1. But…that’s beginning to seem unlikely.



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Giants appear unlikely to tag Saquon Barkley as franchise window opens

The window that will determine the fate of New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is officially open.

Beginning on Tuesday, February 20 and extending through Tuesday, March 5 at 4:00 p.m. ET, teams can designate franchise and transition players. And it’s during that two-week window where Barkley’s future in blue will be decided.

Should general manager Joe Schoen apply the franchise tag to Barkley for the second consecutive season? What would that mean for their relationship? And do the Giants want to spend $12.1 million fully guaranteed on a running back?

All of those questions lead to fierce debate but in short order, they will be answered.

Some maintain that keeping Barkley in East Rutherford is paramount. Others, like Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, believe it’s time for the Giants to let Barkley go find success elsewhere.

They should let Barkley become a free agent on March 13. They should let Barkley try to be someone else’s Christian McCaffrey since they don’t believe he can be that for them.

Parting ways would make sense for both the player and the team.

Letting Barkley hit free agency would do right by someone who did right by the Giants last season when he didn’t have to. It would let him find his true value on the open market before it depreciates for good due to his age, 27, and mileage.

Just as importantly, it would give Barkley a chance to win.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, who often serves as press secretary for the Giants, doesn’t expect Schoen to use the franchise tag on Barkley this time around. And not because they want to give him a chance to win elsewhere, as Leonard alluded to, but because they view him as a broken-down vehicle on a failing frame.

The bottom line is the Giants are not expected to allocate $12 million on their salary cap for one running back, especially someone they likely view as in decline.

The Giants have conducted studies at the position that show most running backs can trend upward through the age of 26.

Once 27 hits, there is a cliff off which most start to fall.

Barkley turned 27 on Feb. 9.

Barkley has dealt with injury issues throughout his career and missed another three games last season as the result of an ankle sprain. He failed to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards one season after posting career-best numbers.

Despite that, the Giants have continued to publicly express their desire to keep Barkley long-term. He has shared similar sentiments but has also acknowledged that he’s given thought to playing elsewhere.

One thing Barkley has been adamant about is that the Giants don’t wait until March 5 to decide on the franchise tag. He prefers that the call be made as soon as possible.

Schoen is expected to meet with Barkley’s recently adjusted representation at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis next week.

Tick tock.

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Giants are a GM-centric organization and ‘Joe Schoen is in charge’

Did New York Giants co-owner John Mara force quarterback Daniel Jones on general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll?

That is a popular theory among fans who are dismayed with Jones and struggle to understand how he’s survived multiple GMs and coaches, but it may not be one steeped in reality.

Well, at least not entirely.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that despite Mara’s constant presence in the building, Schoen has been given near complete autonomy as the general manager. He makes the calls and is rarely, if ever, overruled.

“Joe Schoen is in charge,” one team source told Leonard. “It’s not like Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum were with the Jets. No one questions who is in charge in the building. It’s a GM-centric organization. It’s not like Brian Daboll is Bill Belichick, where he’s drafting the players.”

Both Schoen and Daboll have endeared themselves to fans but after an underwhelming 2023 campaign and an ugly offseason of exodus, it’s fair to say they are on thin ice. Continued failure will almost certainly lead to change.

But the pair still have an opportunity to turn things around. And by all accounts, Schoen will have free reign to do exactly that — with Mara and Steve Tisch watching on closely.

“This is still John Mara’s team,” another team source said. “Never forget that. John Mara runs the Giants.”

To save his job, Schoen must fix the offensive line once and for all. He must also find a long-awaited solution to the team’s relentless injury issues.

Maybe a new quarterback is also in his future. Schoen appears to have whiffed after signing Jones to a four-year, $160 million deal that came one year after declining the quarterback’s fifth-year option.

Ultimately, the pressure is on and Schoen’s rope is slowly running out.

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Could Giants target Mitchell Trubisky as Tyrod Taylor’s replacement?

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has been very clear that he will address the quarterback position this offseason, whether that comes by way of free agency or the 2024 NFL draft.

Expectations remain that Daniel Jones will start under center once he’s healthy enough to do so, but questions about his backup remain.

Veteran Tyrod Taylor is an impending free agent and the only other quarterback under contract is Tommy DeVito.

“I think we’re going to have to do something (at) quarterback, whether it’s free agency or the draft,” Schoen said at his year-end press conference. “Tyrod’s contract is up, DeVito is obviously under contract and Daniel, we don’t know when he’s going to be ready.

“Just from an offseason program standpoint, that will be a position we’ll have to look at. Again, there are different avenues, free agency or the draft, but we’ll have to address it at some point.”

Schoen has left the door open for a Taylor return but should that not come to pass, an intriguing option just hit the open market.

On Monday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers and veteran quarterback Mitchell Trubisky had agreed to mutually part ways.

Schoen and Giants head coach Brian Daboll are no strangers to Trubisky, who spent a year with the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

Although that was the only season of his seven-year career that Trubisky didn’t start a game, he became familiar with Daboll, who was offensive coordinator at the time, and his system — much of which has carried over with the Giants.

Trubisky is likely to seek a starting job but could view the Giants as a backup destination given the injury issues that plague Jones and his familiarity with those in charge.

Before signing with the Steelers in 2022, Trubisky to the Giants was a hot topic and a union many believed would happen. Perhaps both sides will circle back given their respective needs.



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Giants nearly bottom out in ESPN’s way-too-early 2024 power rankings

The New York Giants finished the 2023 regular season with a record of 6-11, accurately representing their underwhelming year.

They were among the worst teams in the league based on most measures and metrics, and oddsmakers aren’t optimistic that will change in 2024. The Giants have been given some of the worst Super Bowl LIX odds and many believe they are years off from competing.

Accordingly, ESPN recently listed the Giants near the very bottom of their way-too-early 2024 power rankings.

The Giants are at a crossroads with impending free agent running back Saquon Barkley. It’s either now or never in terms of committing to their running back long-term. New York also needs to decide if it’s willing to build the team around quarterback Daniel Jones in a year where it has the No. 6 overall pick and plenty of draft capital. Drafting a quarterback is clearly an option with Jones’ injury history now including two neck injuries and a torn ACL.

Three separate regimes have attempted to compete while rebuilding and it’s cost the franchise a decade. Save for a single playoff win in 2022, the Giants have been largely uncompetitive and sport the NFC’s worst record since 2013.

Entering Year 3 of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll tandem, pessimism remains the word of the day. This offseason has already been highlighted by an ugly Wink Martindale divorce, significant coaching staff turnover, and lingering issues at nearly every position.

Frankly, ESPN may have ranked the Giants too high.

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Trade market for New York Giants QB Daniel Jones is non-existent

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen remains publicly committed to quarterback Daniel Jones following a down year that ended in multiple injuries.

Jones, who signed a four-year deal worth $160 million last offseason, will now spend the next several months recovering from a serious neck injury and rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee.

Schoen hopes Jones can return for the start of training camp, but he may miss some games to start the 2024 regular season. Realizing that, the GM intends to address the quarterback room this offseason, and that could include using the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL draft on the position.

One option the Giants do not have, reports SNY’s Connor Hughes, is trading Jones.

There’s an epidemic in the NFL centered around young quarterbacks playing immediately. The Giants don’t have to fall victim to that. Selecting a quarterback in the first round does not mean Schoen then trades Jones — granted, Jones would have little-to-no market, sources told SNY, because of his injury history and contract.

In other news, the sky is blue, grass is green and water is wet.

Jones is on the books for $47.1 million next season, including a guaranteed signing bonus of $9 million (same for each year of the contract). Factoring in DJ’s multiple neck injuries and ACL tear, it’s clear why no team would be willing to take him on.

A trade also wouldn’t benefit the Giants to any great degree. If they dealt him before June 1, they’d be left with a dead cap hit of over $33.3 million while clearing just $13.79 million in salary. A post-June 1 trade would leave New York with a dead cap hit of $23.1 million in 2024 and $22.2 million in 2025.

The Giants have an out after the 2024 season if they want it but until then, they’re stuck with Jones whether they like it or not.

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