5 priorities for NY Giants GM Joe Schoen starting right now
By Zak Musso
The NFL offseason is underway, and the New York Giants front office is fast at work. The NFL Scouting Combine begins soon in Indianapolis, and the majority of the NY Giants front office will descend upon the state of Indiana to get a look at the top 319 prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The free agent negotiating period will open on March 13, just a week after the end of the combine. Joe Schoen has repeatedly stated he wants to build the Giants through the draft, but there is no doubt he will add multiple veteran starters during free agency.
Schoen does not have to wait until March 13 to get the party started, as he is free to sign any of the Giants own free agents immediately. That list includes Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Julian Love, Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton and Nick Gates.
The NY front office has some major decisions to make, and it will undoubtedly be a busy spring in East Rutherford. Here are five priorities for Schoen this offseason starting now:
5. Create more cap space
According to Overthecap, The Giants have just under $47 million in cap space, fourth most in the NFL. The Giants have the ability to create even more cap space, and that should be Schoen’s first priority.
The obvious first step, cut Kenny Golladay. Golladay has had a disastrous two-season tenure in Blue, and releasing him would save the Giants $6.7 million in cap space.
The next priority for Schoen would be to figure out a way to lower Leonard Williams’ massive $32.2 million cap hit. There are three ways Schoen can lower that cap hit. He can release Williams and save $12 million in space, but take a $20 million dead cap hit, restructure Williams’ deal which would free up $8.14 million in space, or extend Williams and free up $13.47 million in cap space.
The last option makes the most sense for the Giants, as they would free up the most cap space, and lock up a good interior defensive lineman for the future.
Finally, Schoen could release Darnay Holmes and save another $2.74 million in cap space. If Schoen takes these three steps, the Giants would have $69.72 million in cap space to work with this offseason.