American Football

Giants news, 1/24: Schoen, salary cap, Jones, more headlines

January 24, 2023

New York Giants headlines for Tuesday

Daniel Jones the priority over Saquon Barkley? | Big Blue View

New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen seemed to indicate on Monday that while he wants both players back re-signing quarterback Daniel Jones might take precedence over bringing back running back Saquon Barkley.

Schoen, side-by-side with head coach Brian Daboll, did not say directly that the quarterback was the priority. But it was apparent from the tone of his answers that if he has to choose bringing Jones back takes precedence.

“We’d like Daniel to be here,” Schoen said. “There’s a business side to it, but we feel like Daniel played well this season. He’s done everything that we asked him to do … we would like to have Daniel Jones back.

When asked about Barkley’s future, the first thing Schoen did was talk about business.

“We’d like to have all the guys back, I really would, but there’s a business side to it and there’s rules that you need to operate under in terms of the salary cap,” Schoen said. “Saquon’s a good player, he’s a great teammate. I loved getting to know him this season. He’s a guy we would like to have back.

Schoen’s remarks can be read to indicate that he feels the Giants have a lot of things to get done this offseason and that throwing their salary cap budget out of whack at the running back position might not be in the team’s best interest.

Other Giant observations

2023 NFL Salary Cap Tracker: All 32 NFL teams ranked by cap space | PFF

Entering the offseason, the Giants have $54,247,461 in cap space and $42,843,422 in effective cap space, the maximum cap space a team will have when it signs at least 51 players to its roster for that season. The Giants rank third in both categories, behind the Chicago Bears ($92.0m/$82.5m) and the Atlanta Falcons ($56.6m/$51.5m).

Maybe the biggest difference between Dave Gettleman and Joe Schoen

“You shop hungry, you overpay, it’s a bad deal, and then you get buyer’s remorse. It’s important in free agency to come up with the proper value.”

Joe Schoen on his philosophy in free agency: pic.twitter.com/x8z0ht7cS6

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) January 23, 2023

Sando’s Pick Six: Is Daniel Jones their Tyrod Taylor? | The Athletic

The evaluations Daboll and first-year Giants general manager Joe Schoen must make could seem familiar to them in some ways. Both joined the Buffalo Bills in 2017, when quarterback Tyrod Taylor was coming off a career-best season. The 2016 Bills had ranked ninth in offensive EPA per game, but with a shaky defense, they went 2-6 in one-score games and missed the playoffs at 7-9.

The numbers for Taylor in 2016 line up closely with the numbers for Jones in 2022. Both quarterbacks were managed as opposed to turned loose. Taylor’s Bills were much better statistically on offense than the modestly equipped Giants were this season. Both players’ running ability was foundational for their success (they are teammates on the Giants now).

Giants would like Daniel Jones ‘to be here,’ GM says, as QB enters free agency | The Athletic

“I’ve said it all year. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do as an offensive staff. He’s done a great job operating and executing,” Daboll said about Jones. “He’s played the quarterback position well for us. Happy we had him.”

Winners and losers from NFL’s divisional round | CBSSports.com

Loser: Daniel Jones. After a Cinderella season, the Giants quarterback finally turned back into a pumpkin Saturday. Jones threw for just 135 yards during an embarrassing loss to the Eagles where his team was only able to muster one touchdown. To add insult to injury, Jones took a beating, getting sacked five times.

Mike Francesa: Daniel Jones ‘rattled’ Giants’ loss to Eagles | New York Post

“Did the Giants have an amazing season? Yes. Did the Giants have a great turnaround season? Yes. Did they accomplish a lot by beating a shaky Minnesota team in [the wild-card round?] Yes. Does this loss take away from what they accomplished? Absolutely does,” Francesa said. “It leaves a terrible taste in your mouth.”

Joe Benigno: Giants would be ‘stupid’ to let Daniel Jones go | WFAN.com

“I think you’ve finally got a franchise quarterback,” Benigno said. “For all the this way and that way over the last three years about Daniel Jones, I think you have to look at it and say ‘Man, I think we’ve got a real quarterback here,’ I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. …

“No question (he’s the guy for the future). I’ll tell you right now, if the Giants were stupid enough to let Daniel Jones go, I’d be screaming for (the Jets) to go sign him. If you’re a Giant fan, where are you getting better right now than Daniel Jones at that position?”

The answer is “Yes”

Joe Schoen was asked if Dexter Lawrence has ‘done enough’ to earn a second contract

**smirk – smile – laugh – stop himself**

Schoen also discussed the importance of resigning ‘known commodities’ pic.twitter.com/2HXS4J43DD

— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) January 23, 2023

Overreactions, reality checks for NFL divisional round | CBSSports.com

The Giants offensive line is what needs rebuilding on the roster. Overreaction or reality: Reality.

The Eagles had 26 pressures and five sacks against the Giants in the divisional round victory, five hurries were allowed by Evan Neal (who had an 8.6% pressure rate). Jon Feliciano also allowed an 8.6% pressure rate while Nick Gates was at 7.7%, less than ideal. If the Giants want to compete for Super Bowls, the offensive line needs to develop Neal and rebuild the interior. That should be priority No. 1 this offseason.

Daniel Jeremiah 2023 NFL mock draft 1.0 | NFL.com

At No. 25, the Giants are projected to select USC wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Jeremiah writes:

“The former Trojan possesses excellent play speed, which will add another dimension to Brian Daboll’s offense.The Giants need to add more firepower on the outside, and Addison is the best route-runner in the 2023 draft. The former Trojan possesses excellent play speed, which will add another dimension to Brian Daboll’s offense.”

Around the league

Jerry Jones: McCarthy’s Job Not in Doubt After Disappointing Loss to 49ers | The 33rd Team

“No. No. No. Not at all,” Jones said when asked if Sunday night’s result would change McCarthy’s job status. “[The coaching staff’s] decision to (play) the kicker was exonerated with his field goal, in my mind. I’m proud for him, but this is very sickening to not win tonight.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid: QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) doing OK | NFL.com

“He’s worked hard in the treatment and is doing OK,” Reid told reporters. “He told you guys. He mentioned to you that he’s going to play. That’s his mindset. Then we’ll just take it day by day and see how he does.”

Sean Payton to interview with Cardinals | ProFootballTalk

Payton is also a candidate for the Texans, Panthers and Broncos jobs. The long list of Cardinals coaching candidates also includes Ejiro Evero, Brian Flores, Aaron Glenn, Vance Joseph, Dan Quinn, Frank Reich and DeMeco Ryans.