After a phenomenal first season on the job for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, the NY Giants brass now has the challenge of creating sustained success, proving that they’re no fluke. Well, their offseason thus far is off to a roaring start. The Giants have already made a slew of moves that have improved their roster, and Schoen still has the 2023 NFL Draft later in April to continue cultivating his vision.
From dishing out some serious free agent contracts to swinging a huge trade, the franchise hasn’t been shy about utilizing all their resources to ensure the playoffs become the standard once again in New York. While there’s still some holes to fill, the Giants are in a better shape now than they were a couple of weeks ago.
So, what are the best decisions Schoen and Co. made to keep New York moving in the right direction? Here are our top five moves that the NY Giants made this offseason, ranked in order:
5) Bolstering the WR corps
To say the Giants wide receiving corps needed a lift after last season would be an understatement. The mere fact that Jones had his best season with the squad of pass-catchers he had shows the growth of the Giants quarterback under Daboll. However, the franchise made some shrewd moves this offseason to ensure he has some reliable wide receivers to throw to.
First, Wan’Dale Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins were already slated to return before free agency got started. Robinson suffered a season-ending injury in 2022, but showed flashes before then, and of course Hodgins balled out after joining New York.
Then, the Giants decided to bring back Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. Shepard was essential as a locker room guy even though he missed almost the whole season with an injury, and Slayton was the exact kind of player Daboll loves, making himself invaluable throughout the 2022 season.
Finally, the Giants bolstered their depth with some outside pass catchers, including former Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell, veteran slot receiver and kick returner Jamison Crowder and utility wide receiver Jeff Smith. Additionally, Collin Johnson, who the Giants were high on before a preseason season-ending injury last season, will return, and he could be a dark-horse player in 2023.
All in all, I still expect the Giants to look to add a wide receiver or two early in the 2023 NFL Draft, with a litany of talented pass-catchers available. The unit should be in much better shape entering 2023 than it was last season.
4) Signing LB Bobby Okereke
Finally, the NY Giants have a star linebacker in Bobby Okereke. The former Stanford star who showed out with the Indianapolis Colts over the last couple of seasons is ready to make an impact in New York. The team’s brass inked the linebacker to a four-year deal, addressing a position Giants fans have been begging them to for multiple seasons.
Linebacker was easily one of, if not the weakest position group for the team last season. Over and over again the group was exposed, and it showed when the Giants faced teams like the division rival Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
Over four seasons with the Colts, Okereke accumulated 420 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two sacks and three interceptions. Additionally, he’s played in every game over the last two seasons, proving he’s reliable as anyone.
Instead of veteran retreads and rookies who have difficulty adjusting, the Giants have given Wink Martindale a star in the making at linebacker. That’s essential to his operation, and something the franchise should see immediate results from in 2023.
3) Trading for TE Darren Waller
For the first time since Jeremy Shockey, the Giants have a bonafide star at tight end in Darren Waller. Schoen and the Giants front office pulled off a heist by trading for the Raiders tight end, who simply wasn’t vibing with Josh McDaniels and the new-look Las Vegas franchise.
The price was a third-round pick, but being that it was the pick the team received for trading Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs, the deal looks impeccable. Basically, Schoen turned a disgruntled wide receiver who didn’t fit what the Giants were doing into a star tight end and an Eagles’ Super Bowl loss. You can’t do it better than that.
Waller couldn’t be happier to be a member of the Giants, as he explained to the team’s website how he’s kept an eye on Daboll since the coach‘s time with the Buffalo Bills.
""With Dabs, just seeing him from when he was in Buffalo, you just see a high-octane offense," Waller said. "A lot of playmakers, ball just flying around the yard no matter the weather conditions. It's just an exciting brand of football, and you can tell by the way he's come here, I feel like he's really empowering players. And you can tell by just me looking at the tight end group that they had (in 2022), from the outside looking in, receivers that the casual fan may not know a lot about, but they're making clutch plays in clutch moments.""Waller
A motivated Waller providing Jones with a fantastic red zone target and a bonafide star at the tight end position makes this move something to marvel for the Giants.
2) Tagging Saquon Barkley
Say what you will about the value of the running back position in today’s NFL, but Saquon Barkley remains one of the most important players on the entire team.
Just looking at the way the Giants played with the former Penn State star on the field compared to they way they played without him, it’s easy to see why Schoen and the team’s brass wanted Barkley back this offseason. While they’ve yet to come to terms on a long-term deal, and the jury remains out if they will, franchise-tagging Barkley is the best option at the moment.
Barkley didn’t sign the Giants contract offer that reportedly would’ve seen him paid between $12 and $13 million a season, and he may be kicking himself at the moment, as the market for running backs has evaporated. Now, New York gets Barkley back for another season at a little over $10 million, with all the leverage on a long-term deal.
Now, a holdout is possible, but being realistic, there’s no way Barkley is getting a contract even near Christian McCaffrey’s landmark deal from a few seasons ago. Still, the Giants want Barkley and he wants the Giants, so I expect them to find a common ground before the 2023 season begins.
Nevertheless, franchise-tagging Barkley instead of panicking and giving him a long-term deal, especially one that this year’s market would’ve deemed an overpay, may be the best indicator that the franchise is under new and improved leadership. Who knows what Dave Gettleman would’ve done in this situation.
1) Inking Daniel Jones to a long-term deal
The best move of the offseason was one that was a pure no-brainer: inking Daniel Jones to a long-term contract.
Before the clock struck 4:00 p.m. ET for the tag deadline, New York and Jones came to a buzzer-beating agreement on a four-year extension. Yes, Jones is being paid like a top-tier quarterback, but it’s structured in a way that the Giants aren’t hamstrung regardless, and their confidence in Daboll to get the most out of the quarterback deserves more time.
Schoen and Daboll deserve respect for coming into a situation without their own quarterback, molding him and finding their guy in someone many didn’t believe in. On the other hand, Jones hasn’t let any narrative or media scrutiny get to him, continuing to work hard and become the best quarterback he can be. All signs point to him continuing to ascend under his new deal.
Additionally, the agreement allowed the Giants to franchise-tag Barkley. Jones began to blossom in 2022, but an improved wide receiving corps, Waller and another season of Daboll’s coaching could be the right mix to take him into the next stratosphere.
The future is bright in New York due to Schoen’s prowess and decision-making this offseason, and the Giants are about to be a force in the NFL. The future sure is looking bright for this team.
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