Big Blue View
Here are some inside perspectives on Schoen’s three-year body of work
In our bye week series of position reviews, we have focused largely on the three-year body of work compiled by New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen. To get other perspectives on Schoen’s decisions, I surveyed a handful of former NFL executives and some current national media members.
I received responses from three, and those are detailed below. They provide interesting, varied perspectives on Schoen’s work.
Jeff Diamond was general manager of the Minnesota Vikings from 1991-1998 and President of the Tennessee Titans from 1999-2004. He was named Executive of the Year after the 1998 season.
T.J. McCreight was a player personnel executive for the Philadelphia Eagles for five years, beginning in 2017. He was director of college scouting for the Indianapolis Colts from 2012-2016, and director of pro personnel for the Arizona Cardinals from 2009-2011. He began his NFL career as a scout for the Baltimore Ravens in 1997.
Ralph Vacchiano covers the NFC East for FOX Sports. He formerly covered the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News and then SNY TV.
How do you feel about Schoen’s handling of the Giants quarterback situation? Both the re-signing of Daniel Jones in 2022, and what has happened since? In particular, not selecting a quarterback when he had an opportunity in the 2024 draft?
McCreight:
When the Giants signed Daniel Jones in March of 2023, I did not love that decision, but when you looked deeply what were their options? In his four seasons before he signed, he threw 60 TDs/34 INTs and was coming off a Wild Card win. They were not in a position to draft any of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 draft except for Will Levis - and some thought that he would go sooner than he actually went. With all of that it would have been tough to hit ‘reset’ at that time. But then, after he signed, he injured his neck and then a knee and the wheels sort of fell off. It would have been difficult (money allocation/cap) - but not impossible - to draft a quarterback in 2024. I question that decision more than the other. They could have stayed at 6 and picked Michael Penix or JJ McCarthy - or perhaps get creative to try to move up for Jayden Daniels. Not picking a QB in 2024 will haunt them.
** Note the Jets and Sam Darnold/Zach Wilson for a similar type of decision they were facing.
Diamond:
I thought the re-signing of Jones was the right move after his very good 2022 season when he had a career-best 92.5 passer rating, led the Giants to a wild card spot and had a 300-yard passing game in the playoff upset win at Minnesota. I thought the $40 million per year deal was a bit too high but I understand the need to overpay him a bit to get the deal done in order to...
