Joe

Schoen

We know that the Giants tried to trade up to get the number one overall pick and draft Cam Ward earlier tonight. The Giants have also been repeatedly linked to Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, who Brian Daboll supposedly loves. Dart could be the target if the Giants can swing a deal and jump back into the first round.

Hughes acknowledged that the Giants have a “desperate need for a franchise quarterback,” but GM Joe Schoen reportedly said that he “will not force the issue” by drafting a quarterback they deem unworthy of the No. 3 overall pick. Hughes described Schoen as “giddy” when discussing the possibility of drafting Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter are still in play, though Hughes called Sanders a “reach” at the No. 3 spot.

It was part of a blanket release in which the team affirmed they were also keeping head coach Brian Daboll. It has been rumored for some time that the Giants wanted to keep both in their roles, with John Mara endorsing them at midseason. But an embarrassing 3-14 record put them deeper under the microscope. Mara told reporters that improvement needed to come soon because “it better not take too long, because I’ve just about run out of patience.” It sure feels like an uncomfortable edict for a team that hasn’t shown much improvement under Schoen and needs a lot of help to get to mediocre in a suddenly-stacked NFC East.

Per Schultz, Giants owner John Mara is evaluating the two independently, meaning one could be fired after the season with the other sticking around. Schultz added that “exploratory calls” about this scenario have already been made. Two years after going 9-7-1 and winning a playoff game in their first season in New York, Schoen and Daboll bottomed out in 2024 with a 3-13 record heading into Week 18. Daniel Jones was benched and then cut, leaving the Giants with a hefty dead cap hit and no answers at quarterback in his wake. The team is at the ground floor of yet another rebuild, and it’s possible Mara wants to give a new brain trust the reins as he starts from square one.

Mara commented on the Giants’ state at the premier of late Giants owner Wellington Mara’s documentary. Primarily referring to head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, Mara said he does not anticipate making changes either in-season, or in the offseason. This is a vote of confidence in Daboll and Schoen’s leadership of the team, though the non-changes may end there. QB Daniel Jones has fallen short of expectations and Mara did not discuss Jones during this conversation. The Giants currently stand at 2-5 and Mara’s comments indicate that at least the leadership at the top - Daboll and Schoen - won’t change any time soon.

This is the kind of thing you’d hope to hear a team say after they just signed Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract and franchise tagged Saquon Barkley. Jones threw for 3205-15-5 while playing with one of the most underwhelming receiver corps in the league. Schoen and the Giants will hope to get Jones a legitimate WR1 this offseason after the Kenny Golladay experiment fell flat on its face in historic fashion. After taking over as GM in 2022, Schoen spent the last season undoing the mistakes made by former GM Dave Gettleman. Now, he and the Giants sound ready to take the next step after a 9-7-1 season that included a win in the NFC Wild Card Round.

Fowler added that the Seahawks have found some teams interested in the No. 9 overall pick, which they hold. With grades on the top quarterbacks ranging from elite to none being worth a first-round selection, we’re in for a chaotic opening night of the draft. Fowler added that the picks just outside of the top 10 could be the ones targeted by teams looking to trade up. This might be a spot to nab a falling quarterback, or it could simply be the end of a perceived tier of players.

Schoen was always the frontrunner for the Giants general manager job as the organization tries to wash itself of the failed Gettleman-Judge regime. Schoen, 42, has helped create one of the league’s best, most well-rounded rosters in Buffalo, and will now be tasked with revamping a Giants roster with some promise, including Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney, and Kenny Golladay. Next up will be the Giants’ search for a head coach. Look for the team to pursue Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, though there’s reportedly not a “package deal” in place alongside Schoen.

Daboll, following Buffalo’s offensive showcase against New England in the Wild Card round, is very much in demand for teams seeking a new head coach. The Bears and Dolphins have expressed interest in Daboll, and with the Giants’ head coaching search heating up, the organization could make a run at the Bills OC. The Giants are pursuing Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen for their general manager vacancy. Hiring Schoen could give them the upper hand on landing Daboll after the Bills’ season ends. Daboll’s development of Josh Allen would offer hope that he can do something similar with Daniel Jones.

There’s also reportedly no “package deal,” with a GM linked to a coach, and the GM will be able to pick the head coach they desire. Schoen would seem to be an easy link to Brian Daboll, but the Brian Flores-Deshaun Watson angle is still likely in play. The Giants are “expected to have a general manager in place by the weekend.”