The Giants finished this past season in the basement of the NFC East, just doing their own thing while the rest of the division enters this week in what feels like a different world within the NFL.
The Eagles and the Commanders picked up playoff wins and head into the NFC’s final four, each one victory away from playing for a spot in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The Cowboys have entered an unexpected coaching search after parting ways with Mike McCarthy, and no surprise owner Jerry Jones has figured out how to commandeer the attention away from the teams still alive in the postseason hunt with his flirtation with Deion Sanders.
Maybe even more significant is the fact that the Giants’ divisional peers have their franchise QB: Jalen Hurts in Philly, Dak Prescott in Dallas and Jayden Daniels in Washington.
With Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen staying as head coach and general manager, here are the biggest questions facing the Giants in 2025:
Who will be Giants’ quarterback, present and future?
It’s the No. 1 priority. The Giants need to consider every path to get their quarterback. There’s not a fool proof way to acquire one, and nothing should be off the table. That being said: first and foremost, the best option is in the draft. Could it be Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders? What about sleepers like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart? I’m trusting Daboll in combination with Schoen and his personnel department and scouting staff to pick one.
With Tommy DeVito the only QB on the roster, provided the Giants extend him the exclusive rights free agent tender, Daboll and Schoen can’t stop there. Justin Fields could have untapped potential to develop. The Giants liked Hendon Hooker in the draft two years ago and brought him to East Rutherford for a “30” visit. He’s the backup to Jared Goff in Detroit with no clear avenue to the starting job. You’re going to hear names like Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins, too.
Don’t be surprised if the Giants sign a free agent or trade for a QB prior to the draft, and then select one.
Daboll’s skill as an offensive play caller isn’t in question; the issue is whether the results this past season – or lack thereof – were a product of bad quarterback play or a head coach being spread too thin. That’s something the Giants must dig deep on and figure out.
Can Joe Schoen resist the urge and stay the course?
There is urgency to find success this season, and when you are in charge of constructing the roster, the pressure to fix what’s wrong will undoubtedly mount. That’s the reality for Schoen and, for sure, every move he makes is going to be put under the microscope: is it the best move for the Giants long-term, or is it solely a short-term Band-Aid that may hinder the future of the team?
“We’re gonna build this thing the right way,” Schoen said. “I’m not gonna do a Hail Mary for self preservation or anything like that. We have a plan in place that we believe in and we’re going to stick with that.”
What’s the best way to maximize Dexter Lawrence’s impact?
One of the best ways to build: take a strength and maximize it. For the Giants, Lawrence represents that strength. The addition of Brian Burns and the expectation that team brass will pick up Kayvon Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option solidifies the defensive front. But you want to truly make a difference: find a player who can pair with Lawrence. Could old friend B.J. Hill, a free agent who remains close with Dex, be an ideal fit at an economical price? It wasn’t this front office who traded Hill away. This could also be an area of focus in the draft.
Other than QB, which Giants position needs greatest upgrade?
If the offensive line returns healthy with Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Jon Runyan Jr. at left guard, John Michael Schmitz at center and Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle, there is work to be done, yet that’s a good foundation. The spot that should be prioritized is boundary cornerback after Tae Banks’ rocky sophomore year. The Giants knew they were going to be tested at that position and yes, they were. Now comes the news that both secondary coach Jerome Henderson and safeties coach Mike Treier were fired Wednesday and it’s imperative this group gets a makeover.
Other than nickel corner Dru Phillips and CB Cor’Dale Flott, who showed development, it’s essentially a clean slate. Could they look in the draft? Absolutely, especially if Travis Hunter is in play at No. 3. As far as the free agent market, maybe a glance across town at the Jets and D.J. Reed is something to consider.
What is the identity of this Giants team?
Giants director of player personnel Tim McDonnell was mocked by some on social media for this exchange in Schoen’s office during Hard Knocks, but truth be told, he was spot on. The question needed to be asked, but take it one step further globally for this season, not just one side of the ball.
“If we lose Saquon, right, what’s our identity going to be on offense now?” McDonnell said. “And what’s our plan? What’s the next step of that, I guess is what I’m thinking.”
Who are the Giants moving forward? The “smart, tough and dependable” Giants went to the playoffs in Year 1. Maybe a rookie quarterback becomes the face of the franchise and the fabric that serves to thread the entire organization together, much like what Daniels did in Washington.
Schoen and Daboll, for many, represented the identity this past year. They need to make sure any success going forward is defined mostly by the players, sure, but also the overall team – the Giants must sell the football on game days.