Despite the New York Giants heading into the 2024 season with very low expectations, I’m not sure anyone could have predicted just how bad the year would turn out for Big Blue, especially as they celebrated their 100th season as an NFL franchise. This year saw the Giants set a franchise record with ten straight losses and finish with the most regular-season defeats in team history.
The season also marked the end of Daniel Jones’ time in New York, with the once-franchise quarterback being released less than two years after signing a $160 million contract extension. It was a brutal year for the Giants, who now face yet another rebuild with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen remaining in their head coach and general manager roles.
With the disastrous 2024 season behind them, it’s hard to ignore some of the decisions Schoen made that backfired in a big way. Here are the three worst moves from the Giants' GM last year.
The three worst decisions Joe Schoen made in 2024
3. Giving RB Devin Singletary a three-year contract
After Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and went on to have a historic season, Schoen wasted no time finding a replacement, signing veteran running back Devin Singletary to a three-year deal. Unfortunately, Singletary’s first year as a Giant was anything but productive and could end up being his last.
Despite his prior connection with Daboll and Schoen from their Buffalo Bills days, Singletary's 2024 numbers were underwhelming. The 27-year-old managed just 437 rushing yards and four touchdowns, never surpassing 95 yards in a single game. He also missed time early in the season due to injury, opening the door for rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who impressed and ultimately took over the starting role.
While no one expected Tracy, a fifth-round pick, to rush for over 800 yards, Schoen’s decision to sign Singletary to a multi-year contract now looks like a significant misstep. With Tracy firmly entrenched as the starting back heading into 2025, Singletary may seek a trade or release, making this a costly and unnecessary move by Schoen.
2. Not selecting a quarterback in the first round of 2024 draft
Schoen selected wide receiver Malik Nabers as the sixth overall pick, which was a fantastic decision. Nabers had a phenomenal rookie season, recording 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns despite inconsistent quarterback play. However, given how poorly Daniel Jones' situation unfolded, Schoen should have prioritized drafting a quarterback in the first round.
The Giants attempted to trade up to the No. 3 spot held by the New England Patriots, who ultimately selected Drake Maye. Even after missing out on Maye, the Giants passed on other quarterbacks like Bo Nix, who went 12th overall to the Denver Broncos and led them to their first playoff appearance since 2015. Nix threw for over 3,700 yards with 29 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions, becoming an overnight sensation.
While Nabers is a clear building block for the Giants' future, the 2025 draft class doesn’t boast the same depth at quarterback as last year’s. With the Giants still searching for a franchise QB and Nabers likely frustrated by the team’s lack of success, not addressing the quarterback position in 2024 looks like a major oversight.
1. Letting Saquon Barkley leave in free agency
Who could forget the infamous phone call between Schoen and Barkley during Hard Knocks, where Schoen informed the star running back he could test the open market? That decision has quickly become one of the most regrettable moves in recent Giants history.
Barkley went on to sign a three-year deal with the rival Eagles and delivered a season for the ages, rushing for 2,005 yards—becoming just the ninth player in NFL history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. He came within 101 yards of breaking Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record. While it’s fair to argue Barkley wouldn’t have replicated those numbers behind the Giants' offensive line, watching him dominate for a division rival only added salt to the wound.
Letting Barkley walk was meant to avoid paying big money to a running back, but failing to at least match the Eagles’ offer was a colossal mistake. Barkley had been the face of the franchise since 2018 and the Giants’ most dynamic offensive player throughout his tenure. Believing the team could improve after losing him was nothing short of delusional.
Schoen’s decisions in 2024 contributed heavily to the Giants’ disastrous season. If he wants to avoid another year like this, he’ll need to learn from these mistakes and make smarter moves to get Big Blue back on track.