As a season full of disappointments and letdowns comes to a bitter close, it is time to start looking at how Joe Schoen can revamp the roster heading into next season. With injuries depleting key positions and the New York Giants simply lacking talent, everyone can agree that moves need to be made.
With a talented and deep player pool in the upcoming NFL Draft, a plethora of free agent options, and several players seeking contract extensions, these five moves will be of the utmost importance for the Giants to return to winning football in 2024 and make Schoen look brilliant in the process:
5. Draft a quarterback
Giants' fans may not want to hear it, but it's time to begin the process of moving off of Daniel Jones. After being rewarded with a four-year, $160 million contract last offseason, this season was riddled with injuries and poor play. Winning just one of his six starts this season and sporting a poor 2-6 touchdown to interception ratio - the Giants must start preparing for a future without Jones.
Luckily for the Giants, their 5-11 record, matched with a diverse and ultra-talented 2024 QB draft class, leaves plenty of room for optimism and hope. Although unlikely to land Caleb Williams, the standout from USC, the likes of Drake Maye (UNC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), JJ McCarthy (Michigan), Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) and Bo Nix (Oregon) will all be options in the early rounds.
While drafting the right quarterback is important, properly nurturing and developing the quarterback is equally essential. With Jones still on the books for the foreseeable future, it may make sense to start Jones and allow him to act as a mentor while the rookie QB can continue to learn and grow as a backup. These decisions and situations will greatly impact this Giants' team for decades to come, and it is critical for Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll to make the right decision.
4. Sign a proven right tackle and move Evan Neal to guard
Speaking for all Giants fans, it's time for the constant carousel at right tackle to come to an end. For what seems like a decade, the Giants offensive line has been decimated by injuries and draft busts. This time, the Giants must swallow their pride, take out their wallets, and sign a proven veteran to protect whichever quarterback is under center.
For Evan Neal, the sky was the limit coming out of Alabama in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for him and the Giants, he has not sniffed that ceiling. After missing two games with a right ankle injury earlier this season just to play 50 snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders and subsequently injure his left ankle, Neal can not seem to find his groove.
After being placed on season-ending IR and now reports stating he will undergo surgery, it has truly felt that everything that could go wrong for Neal has. While it's easy to give up on a player like Neal, Giants' fans must understand that he isn't a lost cause. While his future at right tackle seems bleak, don't be shocked if the Giants do all they can to convert Neal into a guard.
While college tackles often transition to the guard position in the NFL due to size limitations, several success stories give hope to Neal's career revitalization. Players like Brandon Scherff, Andrus Peat, and Zach Martin made lemonade from lemons and developed into solid interior offensive linemen. Neal has all the physical attributes and skills to dominate, and a position switch could help his confidence.
3. Draft a late-round receiver
Much like the disastrous offensive line situation, the Giants have failed to successfully fill the shoes of Odell Beckham Jr. since his departure in 2018. Having the alpha No. 1 receiver is mandatory to have a truly great football team and gives the quarterback a much-needed security blanket. Whether it's Jones or a rookie taking the helm next season, it is vital to set them up for success. Adding another outside pass-catcher certainly will help.
When looking at the 2024 WR draft class, a few names stick out in the mid to late rounds. Brenden Rice (USC), Jermaine Burton (Alabama), and Johnny Wilson (FSU) all had very successful college careers and have potential to succeed at the next level.
A true X receiver can fit beautifully into this offense with Darren Waller at tight end, a speedster outside in Jalin Hyatt, and a utility slot man in Wan'Dale Robinson. Also, unlike many positions, history shows that the translation time from college to NFL for receivers is often shorter than that of other positions. With Puka Nacua dominating as a fifth-round rookie this year, it's clear that gems are out there; it is simply a matter of the Giants finding them.
2. Fire Mike Kafka
With the increasing likelihood that the Giants hit the reset button at QB, it might also be time to follow suit with the offensive coordinator position. While there is no doubt Mike Kafka is a great offensive mind, his tenure with the Giants has proven he might need more time to be ready to help a team like the Giants turn their offensive woes around.
When looking towards next season and, more specifically, options to replace Kafka, names like Darrell Bevell, Byron Leftwich, and Brian Hartline come to mind. One common denominator defines all of these options that the Giants must look for in a candidate: a history and track record of developing quarterbacks. When investing a first-round pick in a QB, it can't be overstated how important it is to find the right guy. Whether it is Bevell in his role developing Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, Leftwich with his history as an NFL QB and role helping Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, or Brian Hartline molding CJ Stroud at Ohio State - all three of these candidates have proven their abilities as teachers.
While the consensus opinion remains that Daboll is the right man as head coach, it is equally as important for him to generate a compelling cast around him. Finding the right offensive coordinator will be crucial in setting up the Giants and any potential draft picks for a long and illustrious future.
1. Let Saquon Barkley walk
Yes, we're saving the most controversial idea for last. It is in the Giants' best interest to swallow their pride and let the incredible talent of Saquon Barkley leave the team in free agency. While it is tough to believe this move is in the team's best interest, history shows that the Giants would be making a grave mistake in overpaying for the star running back.
Simply put, teams that pay running backs large contracts struggle to win. Looking back at all Super Bowl winners since 2009, the team's leading rusher has never made more than $2.5 million annually. This shocking statistic shows that there are better investments than at RB, and the Giants will be better off spending the money working on the O-Line and investing in a mid-late-round RB.
With Saquon Barkley reportedly turning down a 3-year, $39 million deal this offseason in hopes of cashing in this year, he will likely command at least that number after a successful 2023 campaign. Currently renting his services on a one-year, $10.1 million franchise tag, it doesn't make sense for the Giants to splurge on an RB with the team's current state.
Ultimately, this offseason will be full of tough decisions for Schoen and Co. Look for Schoen to make big moves in hopes of returning to a playoff team in the 2024 season. If executed with precision, these moves have the potential to re-shape the Giants and position them for a successful future. The pressure is on, and the decisions made in the coming months will undoubtedly shape the franchise's trajectory.