Since Joe Schoen joined New York’s front office in 2022, the Giants are 20-43-1.
In his latest press conference ahead of the Week 14 bye, he took full ownership of the failures and empathized with fans who are feeling frustrated and embarrassed.
He knows that his job hangs in the balance this offseason, and he will do whatever it takes to keep working in East Rutherford. With the Giants
currently holding the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft with four games left to play, a head coaching void, and some gaping holes in the secondary, Schoen certainly has his work cut out for him.
After accumulating a laundry list of failures in just four seasons with the team, this should truly be seen as his last chance to make things right.
The Draft
Schoen acknowledges all his past flaws.
He is barely even batting a buck-fifty with some of the busts he’s selected during his tenure. However, as he said, he is a better general manager now than he was four years ago, and he thirsts for further improvement.
Schoen said he won’t make the same mistake twice, and with how many avenues the Giants could go down here, Schoen can’t really mess things up. However, there are several trouble points that he needs to address, and this is the year to do it.
Run Defense Is Key
The biggest, most glaring problem to fix is the run defense. Coordinator, player execution, lack of talent, whatever the case may be, the Giants’ run defense has been abysmal all season and ranked nearly last in every statistical category.
Peter Woods, Clemson defensive lineman, isn’t the most glorious first-round pick, but he would certainly help attack this issue — nfldraftbuzz.com describes him as an “exceptional run defender…[he] consistently diagnoses blocking schemes pre-snap, maintains proper gap integrity, and shows the processing speed to adjust when plays develop differently than expected.”
The last thing the Giants need is another defensive lineman, but Woods is an immovable force against the run. He would have a serious Day 1 impact alongside
Dexter Lawrence. This also would allow the Giants to potentially pawn off
Kayvon Thibodeaux while his value is peaking.
Arvell Reese would also help add to the second line of defense and improve linebacker depth if they can lock him down with a top draft pick. He brings versatility, improves the run defense, and is an exciting prospect who fits multiple needs for the Giants.
Secondary Sadness
A lot of the G-Men’s defensive struggles this year came from a lack of depth in the secondary. They brought in a ton of talent in Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland; Cor’Dale Flott was also a breakout DB for them. All three faced an injury during the year, exposing just how thin they were.
Caleb Downs is one of the most exciting defensive prospects in this year’s draft. He has sideline-to-sideline juice, explosion, and can defend the run well. This is a can’t-miss pick for the Giants to address multiple issues. That versatility, like the aforementioned Reese, would be invaluable.
Besides, the Giants just play better football when they have a bona fide shot-caller at safety. The
Landon Collins and
Xavier McKinney days were some of the best in recent memory, and they have been missing a true X-factor safety for quite some time.
Trading Back
The Athletic gave the Giants a 9% chance of finishing the season with the first overall pick in their latest playoff simulator. If they are able to defy odds and lock down the first pick, this puts them in a prime position to trade back and load up on draft capital.
Teams like the Steelers, Cardinals, Jets, and Raiders will be desperate to draft a quarterback. Prospects like Dante Moore, Fernando Mendoza, and Ty Simpson will be tantalizing for them to select. The Giants, hopeful that Jaxson Dart is their franchise quarterback, can use that leverage to trade back if the price is right.
If the Giants don’t draft a versatile defender that addresses multiple issues, trading their pick back for a quarterback-hungry team could allow them to draft in a way that better sets up their future. They could add to the secondary, the run defense, and mix in a receiving weapon all within the first couple of rounds. The only caveat with that is Schoen has to nail every pick – not just pick one surefire prospect.
Closing the Coaching Void
This year’s draft and offseason will be critical to fixing the Giants’ on-field issues; they also have to fix the coaching staff after deciding to clean house. With Brian Daboll gone and Shane Bowen following him out, Schoen will be looking for a leader to help guide the future of the franchise.
Head coach candidates are abundant. Experienced or not, they should be foaming at the mouth to lead this young Giants group.
A more experienced head coach could bring in a winning pedigree, instill a positive winning culture, and hold his players and his staff accountable. The young talent on this team needs a leader like that to keep them disciplined and develop a culture.
Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman has been rumored to take over in New York and is currently the betting favorite.
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However, some first-time head coaching candidates have been amid candidacy conversations. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is a current fan favorite.
These types of coaches can help bring the young offense to new heights through expertise in that area, and can be better for the development of
Jaxson Dart,
Cam Skattebo, and
Malik Nabers. However, the Giants have a recent history of failed coordinators-turned-HCs.
No matter what route Schoen goes, picking the next leader of this Giants team will be just as crucial to his job security as the selection of players in the draft and free agency.
Last Licks
It is evident that Schoen has his work cut out for him. From who to draft, to who to bring on the coaching staff, to who he is going to try to obtain in free agency. He also has to worry about bringing back guys who were integral to their success this year (when they were successful). This means resigning the likes of Wan’Dale Robinson and Cor’Dale Flott.
There isn’t a shared sentiment of hope among Giants fans, and who can blame them? This is the same guy who put them in this current state. But Schoen deserves one last chance to make things right in New York.
The Giants are primed for a breakout year. A new coaching staff, a young roster full of talent, and a great draft position. And after Schoen’s exceptional 2025 draft, he has at least earned the opportunity to set up this team for the future.
As he mentioned, batting 1.000 is out of the picture. And as this guy is no Tony Gwynn, he is right about one thing. He is a better GM than he was four years ago.
This offseason, all eyes will be on him as he tries to address all of the team’s issues. But if he is the man for the job that he says he is, then fans should at least be open to giving him one last shot to get it right.
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