The New York Giants have been bad for a while, but what’s even worse? Watching former Giants players leave the building, thrive elsewhere, and make general manager Joe Schoen look like an absolute fool in the process. Every GM has some misses, but Schoen is stacking them up like a losing parlay.
PFF just dropped its annual Top 101 Players list for the 2024-25 season, and four names should have Giants fans frustrated with Schoen. Saquon Barkley, Leonard Williams, Xavier McKinney, and Julian Love all made the list, each turning in elite performances this past season—just not in a Giants uniform. Three of them were outright let go by Schoen. One was traded for draft picks that may or may not pan out.
The Giants finished 3-14 while these guys were performing like top players in other uniforms. The math ain’t mathing.
Joe Schoen is a master at letting talent walk out of the door
Let’s break this down. Four players Schoen had the ability to retain just put together some of the best seasons of their careers. Here’s how each one left:
- Saquon Barkley (No. 10 on PFF’s list, Eagles): Schoen played hardball with Barkley, wouldn’t commit to a long-term deal, and let the team’s best offensive player walk to the division-rival Eagles. Barkley responded by rushing for over 2,500 yards (postseason included), winning Offensive Player of the Year, and helping Philly win the Super Bowl. Fantastic work, Joe.
- Leonard Williams (No. 44, Seahawks): Traded midseason in 2023 for a second- and fifth-round pick. That second-rounder became Tyler Nubin, who might be great, but Williams just led all interior defenders in sacks (11) and was fourth in overall PFF grade. The Giants were starving for defensive playmakers last year, but sure, let’s just give one away.
- Xavier McKinney (No. 56, Packers): The best safety the Giants had in years, and Schoen let him leave for nothing. Green Bay gladly handed McKinney $67 million, and he rewarded them with eight interceptions and the second-best coverage grade of any safety in the NFL. Would’ve been nice to have in New York, huh?
- Julian Love (No. 101, Seahawks): Let go in free agency because Schoen didn’t think he was worth re-signing. Love then made his first Pro Bowl, had a career year, and signed a three-year, $36 million extension with Seattle. Again, nothing in return.
Here’s the thing: good teams don’t let this happen. Good GMs know how to keep talent, develop it, and not give up on players who are clearly ascending. Schoen? He’s let four of them go in two years, and now they’re all thriving while the Giants are stuck in the basement of the NFC East.
This isn’t about a team rebuilding. This is about a front office failing to recognize its own talent. The Giants spent all last season scrambling to find competent safety play alongside Nubin. You know what would’ve helped? Keeping either of the two guys who just landed in PFF’s Top 101. They couldn’t generate a pass rush? Maybe retaining the dude who led all defensive tackles in sacks wasn’t the worst idea.
Instead, Schoen decided the Giants were better off without them. PFF’s rankings—and the Giants’ 3-14 record—say otherwise.