Not every draft pick, free-agent signing, or trade works out. That's the lay of the land in the NFL. The New York Giants are no strangers to that reality. Think Evan Neal, Devin Singletary, and Darren Waller. All three of those moves have come back to bite Joe Schoen in the you-know-what.
It's just like the saying goes, "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Meaning, be a general manager long enough, and eventually, bad moves will begin to define your tenure. Look no further than Bill Belichick, who left the best coaching career in NFL history on a sour note, only to go on to coach college football. It happens.
Schoen’s next swing-and-miss might already be here—and it’s not hard to spot. The G-Men handed Victor Dimukeje a one-year, $1.337 million contract in free agency to help boost their pass rush depth. And to no fault of his own, that move has aged like milk.
The Giants agreed to terms with OLB Victor Dimukeje, per @NessMugrabi and @davidcanter of @aurasportsgroup.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) March 18, 2025
The former Cards edge rusher has played in 55 games with eight starts. He has four career sacks.
Victor Dimukeje’s Giants tenure is flashing all the wrong signs
In four professional seasons, Dimukeje has amassed four sacks in 55 games. That's... not great. Adding insult to injury is the fact he had all four in one season, meaning he has gone three seasons without a sack. That's nuts.
Originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Dimukeje offered the Arizona Cardinals a high-motor kid with the work ethic to become a difference-maker. His 21.5 sacks at Duke—second all-time—suggested a potential-filled, long-term solution to their outside linebacker problems.
Boy, were they wrong.
And anyone expecting things to suddenly click in New York is kidding themselves. This was a transformational offseason for Big Blue. One filled with upgrades all over the place, specifically along the defensive front. Schoen signed veterans Jeremiah Ledbetter, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Chauncey Golston, while later drafting Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander.
With Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence already on the roster, there isn't much room for another experimental pass rusher, especially not one whose career production barely cracks the box score.
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With pressure mounting on this team to finally deliver, depth pieces are nice in theory, but not necessary. Is a guy who couldn't even crack the Cardinals' rotation really going to do anything to crack this Giants rotation? No. It's almost like, why did they even sign him in the first place?
No offense to the 25-year-old. He could definitely find some reps on another team where pass-rushing reps mean a little more than they do in New York. With the talent on the roster, it's hard to see Dimukeje doing much of anything.
At best, this feels like a wasted roster spot. At worst, it’s a clear misfire by a GM who can’t afford many more. The Giants didn’t need Victor Dimukeje, and based on how things are trending, they probably won’t keep him. In a make-or-break season, every roster spot matters, and this one’s already trending in the wrong direction.