3 decisions Giants’ front office must address after disastrous season

Joe Schoen and the New York Giants' front office will have plenty of important decisions to make following the 2024 season. After all, the team is a poultry 2-10. The Giants have lost their last seven games, resulting in several players' absences from the team due to being released and season-ending injuries.

The Giants released Daniel Jones after owner John Mara granted the 27-year-old's request after spending five-plus seasons in New York. Jones signed with the Minnesota Vikings, and after one start, backup Tommy DeVito suffered an injury. This led the Giants to promote Drew Lock to the starting role and sign Tim Boyle off the practice squad as the backup. Additionally, the Giants released cornerback Nick McCloud, who subsequently signed with the San Francisco 49ers. On the injury front, Big Blue has ruled out defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and tight end Theo Johnson for the remainder of the season.

With the team's struggles continuing, Giants fans have started to look ahead to this offseason, when the team will have plenty of crucial decisions to make. That said, let's look at three decisions the Giants' front office must address after this disastrous season.

Three decisions the Giants' front office must address after this season

3: Who will the Giants pursue in free agency?

The Giants are expected to focus on bolstering their wide receiver room, with Darius Slayton's contract set to expire after this season. A potential addition like Tee Higgins or Amari Cooper in free agency could complement Malik Nabers effectively on offense. The team is also likely to target a veteran defensive back in free agency to strengthen a secondary that has struggled this year, with a player like Charvarius Ward potentially being signed away from the 49ers.

While addressing the wide receiver and cornerback positions in free agency could significantly impact the Giants' salary cap, these are essential moves heading into the 2025 season. Fortunately, the team is projected to have $60.28 million in available cap space, providing flexibility to tackle these critical needs.

The Giants' most pressing need in free agency will be at quarterback. While it’s likely the G-Men will select a quarterback with their first-round pick, signing a veteran signal-caller to start the season and mentor the rookie seems like a logical move—similar to what the Minnesota Vikings did this year with JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold.

Some affordable short-term options for the Giants in free agency could include Sam Darnold, Jameis Winston, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Marcus Mariota. These experienced players could provide stability while helping to develop the team’s next franchise quarterback.

2: Which quarterback will the Giants take in the NFL Draft?

New York's front office is expected to prioritize selecting the Giants' next franchise quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. If the Giants secure the No. 1 pick, it’s likely that Schoen and his staff will target Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders

The senior quarterback had an outstanding season, leading the Big 12 Conference with 3,926 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Sanders also posted an FBS-best 74.2 percent completion rate, showcasing his accuracy and decision-making. Should the Giants draft him, Sanders could make an immediate impact on the team next season.

Another prospect the Giants should strongly consider in the NFL Draft is Miami’s Cam Ward. This season, Ward threw for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns, ranking second in the nation in passing yards and first in passing touchdowns. He also led the country with an impressive quarterback rating of 88.0.

Giants scouts were on hand this past weekend for Miami’s upset loss to Syracuse. Despite the defeat, Ward had a solid performance, completing 69.4 percent of his passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Many believe Ward could be a better fit for Brian Daboll's offense than Shedeur Sanders, with speculation growing that the Giants might favor the Miami quarterback as their top pick.

Beyond the question of who will coach the Giants in 2025, the team’s first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft has the potential to shape the franchise’s future for years to come. This is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal drafts in the team’s history.

Schoen and the Giants’ front office must address the quarterback position, a glaring need that cannot be ignored. Selecting the right player in this draft is crucial to setting the team on a path toward long-term success. Hopefully, their choice will provide the stability and leadership the franchise desperately needs.

1: Who will be the Giants' head coach in 2025?

In addition to addressing their positional needs in free agency and solidifying their quarterback room during the offseason, particularly in the NFL Draft, the Giants face a critical decision regarding head coach Brian Daboll's future. Player morale appears to be at an all-time low, and there is growing speculation that the third-year head coach has lost the locker room—a situation that often signals organizational change.

With the Giants sitting at 2-10 through 13 weeks this season, it wouldn’t be surprising if the front office chose to move in a different direction. Whether Daboll remains or not, this decision will be pivotal in shaping the team's trajectory moving forward.

If the Giants choose to part ways with Brian Daboll, several head coaching candidates could be in line to replace him, including Bobby Slowik, Adam Stenavich, Todd Monken, Joe Brady, and Ben Johnson.

Slowik, the Texans’ offensive coordinator, has been instrumental in CJ Stroud’s impressive rookie development. As the Giants prepare to draft a quarterback in the first round, Slowik stands out as an ideal candidate to guide the next franchise signal-caller. Similarly, Ben Johnson has garnered attention as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, consistently impressing with his innovative play-calling. Johnson has been linked to head coaching opportunities since last season and remains a strong contender for any vacancies.

Whoever steps into the role will be tasked with not only rebuilding the team’s offense but also fostering the growth of the Giants’ next quarterback, making this hire one of the most critical decisions in recent franchise history.

More New York Giants news and analysis