Joe Schoen believes the teaching employees must be the voices of the crew when the video games are being performed. The video games are over and completed with and the Giants’ normal supervisor will deal with the media on Monday. Listed here are 5 of probably the most urgent questions for him because the Giants head into the offseason:
What to do with Daniel Jones
May as nicely current the hardest one immediately. Arising with an acceptable contract won’t be simple. Is Jones seen because the soon-to-be anointed franchise quarterback or as a middle-tier man who deserves to return again, however at a average worth? Or — and this may be an enormous shock — does Schoen wish to transfer on from Jones? In case you haven’t observed, there’s not precisely a center class within the NFL quarterback hierarchy. Placing the franchise tag on Jones to safe him for 2023 prices round $32 million sends an odd combined sign — this won’t occur. Jones had a robust season. Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll had been impressed. How a lot does that price? Is Schoen keen to spend a minimum of $35 million a yr on Jones? And right here is one thing to be thought-about: Is there a crew on the market making ready to supply Jones greater than what the Giants consider he’s value?
What to do with Saquon Barkley
A operating again won’t ever take priority over a quarterback and so it goes with Barkley. He did what he needed to do to persuade the brand new teaching employees and a entrance workplace that didn’t make him the No. 2-overall choose within the 2018 NFL Draft that he’s a viable co-face of the franchise. He stayed wholesome and ripped off a career-high 1,312 dashing yards. The offense moved away from prioritizing him a lot within the second half of the season, although, and there’s all the time the talk about giving huge cash to a operating again nearer to 30 years previous than 20 years previous — though Barkley doesn’t flip 26 till Feb. 9. He’s not going to return near Christian McCaffrey’s operating again excessive floor — $16 million a yr. Barkley desires to be a Big for all times. It’s uncertain this subsequent contract will guarantee him that. The franchise tag of about $10 million makes some sense however Barkley received’t need it.
What concerning the weapons?
Isaiah Hodgins was a pleasant story down the stretch, picked up from the Payments and positioned into the beginning lineup. He deserves to return. He’s not a No. 1 large receiver and it doesn’t take a deep dive to disclose there’s not one in all them on the roster. Kenny Golladay will probably be purged from the wage cap quickly sufficient. Sterling Shepard was re-signed for 2022 on a minimal deal to show to the brand new group he may keep wholesome and contribute. He did neither. He is a superb crew man however is there a spot for him on the roster after one more main reconstructive surgical procedure? Darius Slayton’s four-year keep may very well be at an finish. Daniel Bellinger put in a stable rookie yr however he’s at finest the second tight finish on a prolific offense, so assist is required there as nicely. Jones’ numbers would have been much more fascinating with game-breaking targets. A beginning quarterback with 15 landing passes in 16 regular-season video games is just not going to chop it.
Repair the damaged run protection
The Eagles stored issues easy and shredded the Giants for 268 dashing yards of their 38-7 playoff rout and that was a becoming finish for a protection severely missing — a unit with a gap within the center. The Giants completed No. 27 within the league in run protection, permitting 144.2 yards per sport. They combined and matched inside linebackers and by no means discovered a profitable mixture. It’s potential that the majority or all the group that ended up on the roster — Jaylon Smith, Jarrad Davis, rookie Micah McFadden and Landon Collins — won’t be round in 2023. For all of the transient fanfare concerning the return of Collins, he didn’t log a single snap on protection within the playoff finale in Philly. That tells you one thing. Both in free company or the draft or each, this space must be upgraded in an enormous approach.
Maintain ’em or go away ’em?
Schoen has not been hoodwinked into believing his first Giants crew is extra superior or extra proficient than it truly is — regardless of making the playoffs in 12 months 1. He has to type via 18 unrestricted free brokers and never solely the marquee guys equivalent to Jones and Barkley. There are contributing gamers who’ve been round for some time that want to keep however Schoen is just not going to maintain the entire gang collectively. Security Julian Love is a crew captain and performed nearly each snap however will the crew wish to put money into Xavier McKinney extra so than Love? Love is all-in, although, and must be again. Schoen has to deal with the offensive line — it was improved however nonetheless not mounted — and Jon Feliciano and Nick Gates are each free brokers.