New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen receives plenty of criticism, most of it warranted. He's made more than a few questionable decisions during his tenure, leading to many fans calling for his job after the 2025 season.
But it hasn't been all bad for Schoen. He's made a few savvy moves in recent years, setting the Giants up for success moving forward.
A look at three of his most team-friendly contracts reveals that the general manager's time in New York has been better than his public opinion would indicate.
Giants' 3 best contracts show why Joe Schoen is still in New York
Jermaine Eleumenor: 3 years, $39 million
Eleumenor entered the offseason as arguably the best available offensive tackle. As the Tennessee Titans showed in 2025, NFL teams are willing to massively overpay for starting-caliber tackles in free agency.
Yet the Giants kept Eleumenor in-house for just $13 million per year. If the 31-year-old fails to keep up his level of play, New York can move on after the 2027 season without taking on much of a dead cap hit. With Francis Mauigoa acting as a natural succession plan, the G-Men should be set at both tackle spots for years to come.
Andrew Thomas: 5 years, $117 million
Speaking of offensive tackles, Thomas is on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league among non-rookies. The former All-Pro is just the tenth-highest-paid offensive tackle in the league, and he'll drop even farther when players like Paris Johnson Jr. and Darnell Wright sign their extensions.
The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but he's one of the best offensive tackles in football when healthy. He ranked fourth in PFF's pass-blocking grade last season. Only 27 years old, he'll be the cornerstone of the Giants' offensive line for the foreseeable future. Schoen has no regrets three years into this deal.
Patrick Ricard: 2 years, $7.6 million
Sure, Ricard is the second-highest-paid fullback in football, but he still provides plenty of surplus value. He signed for over $3 million less than Reggie Gilliam, who joined the New England Patriots this offseason.
The veteran fullback is one of John Harbaugh's most trusted players and should help open up the Giants' offense in 2026. If he impacts the run game like he did with the Baltimore Ravens, this contract could start to look like one of the best in the NFL.
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