The Giants New Year’s Resolution Needs To Be Firing Joe Schoen
The New York Giants continue to be in purgatory, at the finish line of yet another miserable season. They are 3-13 on the year, and are set to lose their 14th game on Sunday against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. With a head coaching vacancy needing to be filled and a top-two draft pick, the Giants cannot afford to let General Manager Joe Schoen make any more major moves to the roster.
The Giants Need To Start Over
The New York Giants cannot afford to enter the offseason with Schoen retaining full control over crucial decisions. Since his appointment in 2022, Schoen has arguably set the franchise back even further than its original state, and his tenure should end immediately. Fortunately, the Giants have a cornerstone in place after drafting Jaxson Dart. Now, the focus must shift to building the right supporting cast around him.
All indications suggest the Giants will secure the second overall pick, positioning them to receive a substantial return if they trade down while another team selects their quarterback of the future. Much will depend on the decision of Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore, a likely top-five pick who could motivate teams to move up. New York is in an excellent spot to acquire a superstar in the upcoming draft, but Schoen’s track record is concerning.
Even with multiple top 10 picks, he has failed to deliver impact players. In 2022, Schoen selected Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal with the fifth and seventh picks, but neither has made a significant impact. In 2023, he also missed in the first round by selecting Maryland Cornerback Deonte Banks, who has struggled badly.
With a pivotal offseason approaching, the New York Giants cannot allow Schoen to remain at the helm. While he has made some strong moves as General Manager, such as drafting Malik Nabers and Dart, the negatives that surfaced this season have far outweighed the positives.
The Roster Is Poorly Constructed
One of the most persistent issues on the Giants’ roster since Schoen took over has been the kicker position. The team has rotated through at least three kickers since the 2023 season. While special teams changes are common in the NFL, Schoen has repeatedly failed to address them. Graham Gano’s injury history is well-known, and New York should have carried a backup kicker as insurance. Instead, they were caught unprepared and had to scramble for a replacement when Gano was sidelined.
Schoen has also had his fair share of misses when it comes to free agency, most notably giving Darius Slayton a three-year $36 million extension. Slayton has been one of the worst players on the entire offense, dropping a ton of passes that were perfectly thrown by Dart. Schoen has assembled a roster full of miserable players who have accepted that they’ve created a losing culture and have become the laughingstock of the NFL, alongside the New York Jets.
New York has already overhauled its coaching staff and must now do the same with upper management. Fresh leadership will be vital for the team’s success and for the development of Dart, which actually makes this an appealing destination for coaches on the market this offseason. Schoen has gotten worse each year as general manager, and the team is now in much worse shape than it was after his first season.
Can They Turn It Around?
With the right head coach, the New York Giants could turn things around quickly. This offseason, they should target someone like Klint Kubiak, who’s a modern offensive mind with a strong reputation for developing quarterbacks. Given the team’s young talent, hiring a veteran coach like Mike McCarthy isn’t necessary. Instead, the Giants need a leader who brings energy and can transform the culture in East Rutherford.
With Nabers and Cam Skatteboo healthy, the Giants’ offense is set to make significant progress next season. One of the few bright spots this year has been Wan’Dale Robinson, who surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. As he approaches free agency, the Giants will be eager to keep him as a key weapon alongside Jaxson Dart.
The NFL Draft will be the most important factor in the Giants’ rebuild. Although it’s still early in the process, New York must capitalize on their draft picks, despite lacking a third-rounder after trading up for Dart last year.
