For the second straight offseason, New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown is drawing interest for a top front-office job. After being passed over for the Las Vegas Raiders' GM role, Brown is now set to interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who recently fired Trent Baalke after another disappointing season.
That’s all well and good for Jacksonville, but this is a disaster waiting to happen for the Giants. Brown isn’t just another front-office name; he’s a critical piece in the Giants’ scouting and draft process, and losing him now, with the biggest offseason in recent franchise history about to begin, would be truly terrible timing.
Source: The #Jaguars have also requested #Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown for their open GM job.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 4, 2025
Requests are being sent out as we speak. https://t.co/Oz3lTOZ7oH pic.twitter.com/xw8EzLLGPs
General manager Joe Schoen’s seat is scorching hot, and after the 3-14 implosion in 2024, the last thing this team needs is its most valuable talent evaluator walking out the door. Brown played a huge role in scouting last year’s rookie class, which included Malik Nabers, Tyler Nubin, and Dru Phillips.
The Giants can’t afford to give Schoen the wheel—with no oversight—and let him run this offseason solo—not when they’re staring down a crucial draft and potential franchise-altering moves.
Go away Jacksonville—the Giants cannot afford to lose Brandon Brown right now
If this were any other offseason, losing Brown wouldn’t feel as catastrophic. But this is the offseason that will probably define the next five years of Giants football. They’re sitting on the No. 3 overall pick, staring at a draft loaded with franchise-altering talent, and need to make every single move count.
This is not the time for Schoen to be making decisions without Brown in the room. Brown’s scouting background is elite, dating back to his time with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Philadelphia Eagles, and his input was crucial in landing some of the best young talent on this roster. If he leaves now, the Giants’ front office takes a massive hit at the worst possible moment.
Then there’s free agency, where Schoen has done nothing to prove he’s the guy you want leading the charge. Just ask Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney, two homegrown stars he let walk for nothing. If Schoen is running the show alone, why would free agents want to come to New York? His track record suggests he can’t evaluate talent properly, retain his best players, or construct a roster capable of competing. That doesn't sound like many players' dream scenario.
Brown's competence comes into play here, big time. Perhaps his staying could convince a big-name free agent or two this team is in good hands and not being run into the ground. While Schoen may control the decisions at the end of the day, having a competent and respected front office exec on his team could be the difference between players picking up the phone or not.
Of course, the Giants can’t stop Brown from leaving if Jacksonville offers him the job. But if they want to keep the one person in the building they can actually trust in the draft room, they need to do everything in their power to make sure he stays. Because if he walks, Giants fans should be terrified about who’s left making the decisions.