It's no secret that New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is fighting for his job. He's pulling out all the stops in what is undoubtedly a pivotal offseason moment for him and the franchise, but will it be enough?
We'll just have to tune in to find out. Hiring future Hall of Famer John Harbaugh as the Giants' new head coach is a massive step in the right direction to return to relevancy. However, Schoen's work is far from over; in fact, it's only just beginning.
Schoen and the Giants have officially finalized their coaching staff under Harbaugh. Now, together, they must assemble a roster that aligns with their vision for the club. There will be ample opportunities to do so in the coming months, though one crucial date looms largely: March 3.
The NFL's franchise tag window slams shut on March 3 at 4 p.m. ET. New York has a few key contributors set to hit unrestricted free agency who could receive the one-year tender offer, albeit unlikely. One way or another, how Schoen and Co. choose to handle their situations will trigger a massive domino effect.
The New York Giants must not overlook the NFL franchise tag deadline
Each team is allowed to tag one player on an expiring contract to prevent them from hitting the open market, per the league's official website. This can be done any time from Feb. 17 to the aforementioned March 3 deadline. The Giants' candidates are wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
New York doesn't want to see veteran talent walk out the door for financial reasons, though difficult decisions must be made. The question of which of Robinson, Flott and Eluemunor is most deserving of the tag is tough to answer. They all proved themselves as valuable assets, both on and off the field.
Nevertheless, the solution to the Giants' conundrum may be none of the above. Robinson and Eluemunor's respective tag values are roughly $28 million, and Flott's is nearly $21 million. That's way above their projected annual contract rates, putting New York in an unenviable spot.
Whatever the Giants decide to do with Robinson, Flott and Eluemunor will impact the rest of their free agency and draft plans. Replacing the squad's top wideout in 2025, best cover corner or trusted veteran blocker figures to be a priority if any of them leave.