New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen doesn't receive much praise from fans and analysts. His numerous draft whiffs and questionable contract decisions have left him on the hot seat more than once. But he's been on a heater this offseason.
The Washington Commanders are in desperate need of help at wide receiver, and it's looking more likely by the day that Brandon Aiyuk won't be the savior they've been expecting all offseason. Now, they're stuck looking for alternatives in the veteran free agent market.
Too bad Schoen and the Giants already dried up that talent pool.
Joe Schoen's Giants WR spending spree looks even better after Commanders' Brandon Aiyuk debacle
A quick look at Washington's wide receiver depth chart is enough to brighten any Giants fan's day. Behind 30-year-old Terry McLaurin, the Commanders are set to rely on Treylon Burks and rookie Antonio Williams to round out the group. Backups Luke McCaffrey, Dyami Brown, and Jaylin Lane make the picture even more bleak.
Nobody's saying that the Giants have the most talented group of receivers in the NFL, but they have a much higher floor at the position than the Commanders currently do.
After adding Calvin Austin III and Darnell Mooney via free agency and drafting Malachi Fields, the G-Men added Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Braxton Berrios in a late sweep of the veteran wide receiver market. The group is now much more reliable than it was a few months ago and could hold up if a couple of players miss time.
None of the new additions are world-beaters, but the Giants can now rest knowing that they'll at least be competent at the position.
The Commanders, on the other hand, should be scrambling. NFL teams don't seem to have interest in Tyreek Hill or Stefon Diggs. That leaves players like 34-year-old DeAndre Hopkins and journeyman Curtis Samuel as the best available options. Washington could even be forced into a Deebo Samuel reunion if nothing else works out.
They simply don't have a reliable path to take.
This positional weakness could be enough to tank Washington's season. If Jayden Daniels doesn't have enough pass-catching help, he could continue his inconsistent form from last season. In a competitive NFC East, the Giants have a clear advantage here.
Schoen may not come out of many situations looking like a mastermind, but this is a clear win for New York's general manager.
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