A crucial aspect of constructing a winning roster in the modern NFL isn’t just about talent evaluation, but recognizing when to strike. Navigating the growing salary cap is difficult and Joe Schoen is playing chess while other GM’s are playing checkers.
A prime example of this was when he opted not to sign Xavier McKinney to a four-year deal last spring only to sign Jevon Holland to a similar contract a year later. To many, this might seem a lateral move, but it really isn’t.
The NFL’s salary cap increased by $23.8 million from 2024 to 2025, one of the largest spikes in league history.
McKinney might only be making $1.75 million less per season compared to Holland, but the ex-Dolphin is on a more team-friendly deal, which occupies a far smaller percentage of the Giants’ cap space compared to the Alabama product’s deal in Green Bay.
And this move will only look better with time. Kyle Hamilton and Brian Branch are both expected to land extensions, clocking in north of $20 million per season, just like Antoine Winfield Jr. did when he reset the safety market last summer.
And the 25-year-old isn’t the sole benefactor of New York’s spending strategy.
Like Jevon Holland, and Paulson Adebo’s contract is looking like a steal
This stands to benefit another Giants signee in Paulson Adebo, whose signing is quietly becoming one of the best value moves of the offseason. Adebo signed a three-year, $54 million deal to join the G-Men when free agency began, but the cornerback market has completely reset since then.
On Tuesday afternoon, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Sauce Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million extension with the New York Jets which made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. His $30.1 million average annual value (AAV) narrowly beat Texans DB Derek Stingley, who will also make $30 million per season.
A year ago, Pat Surtain II signed for $24 million per season, but the reigning Defensive Player of the Year would far exceed that number today.
Think about the ripple effect that could follow for players like Trent McDuffie, Devon Witherspoon, and Christian Gonzalez. The cornerback market is rapidly accelerating, and the Giants are already ahead of it.
Schoen’s ability to lock in a player with CB1 potential like Adebo before the market exploded? That’s the type of foresight that winning front offices are built on.
New York didn’t overpay for familiarity or chase name value. They anticipated the market, moved quickly, and added ascending players who fit their scheme, all while maintaining cap flexibility for the future.
This is the type of forward-thinking Big Blue has lacked for years in the front office. Despite some wanting Schoen fired for his mistakes, the Giants have been behind the curve for years, and finally might be turning the tide.