The season finale of the NFL series Hard Knocks featuring the New York Giants ended on Tuesday. Throughout this series, so much drama was on full display that many people did not see coming. Hard Knocks also featured Giants General Manager Joe Schoen’s intense phone call with Running Back Saquon Barkley and behind-the-scenes footage of Schoen’s planning and the Giants front office plan in the NFL Draft.
It was a thrilling show to watch from a Giants fan’s perspective. With Hard Knocks now over, all eyes are on this team’s performance during training camp and the preseason as Week One rapidly approaches. Despite the show now over, what were still the biggest takeaways from the season finale of the New York Giants on Hard Knocks?
Theo Johnson Might Be Steal For Giants From This Draft
The Giants looked very happy in this episode of Hard Knocks when the show aired footage of New York drafting Penn State Tight End Theo Johnson with their fourth round pick. The Giants thought they had their tight end for the future when they traded for Darren Waller last season.
Injuries however limited Waller’s playing time for the Giants as he played in just 12 games and announced his retirement after one season in New York. Despite losing him, the Giants from the looks of the episode seem very happy to have Johnson. When Head Coach Brian Daboll and Schoen were discussing the potential of drafting a player like Johnson, they sounded very convinced about the potential he could bring to the team.
“There was a lot of conviction in the building from our scouting staff and our coaching staff that had spent time with the kid,” Schoen said.
With that conviction, New York ended up taking him and Daboll told Johnson during their phone call that the Giants were “fired up” to have him and Johnson assured Daboll they would get everything out of him. This should fire up Giants fans especially because of how Johnson ended his collegiate year last season.
After setting a career-high in receptions with 34 and seven touchdowns, Johnson may end up being a steal for New York. This was for sure one of the biggest takeaways from the season finale of The New York Giants on Hard Knocks.
Schoen Did Not Give In On This Team’s Strong Offer For Their Draft Pick
The #Colts offered No. 15, No. 46, and a 2025 2nd to move up to No. 6 with the #Giants in April's draft. GM Joe Schoen wouldn't move back that far.#Jets also made a call, but their offer wasn't shown.
My guess: Colts wanted Bowers. Jets wanted Odunze. pic.twitter.com/zAl2VloYv5
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 31, 2024
Despite the show featuring Joe Schoen trying to convince the New England Patriots to trade their third overall draft pick to them, he knew if he couldn’t get that pick, he was not going to move down any further. That was exactly what happened as this episode saw the Indianapolis Colts make a strong offer to the Giants for their sixth overall pick.
This Hard Knocks episode saw the Colts General Manager Chris Ballard call Schoen to offer the Giants their first round pick at 15 as well as pick number 46 in the draft and a 2025 second round draft selection for New York’s sixth overall pick. No one e saw that coming from this episode but it still did not matter, Schoen was not going to move down that much.
It was one of the most intriguing parts of the episode as we don’t know who exactly the Colts may have wanted that high in the draft. All of that though still does not matter as Schoen knew exactly who he wanted at six as “Big Blue” got a star in wide receiver Malik Nabers.
