Joe Schoen, general manager of the New York Giants, might only have one more off-season left to turn around a franchise that is headed in the wrong direction. The 2023 season presented unexpected difficulties as the squad struggled to win and quarterback Daniel Jones suffered an ACL tear.
They did not do well against competitive teams, even if they did achieve a few victories against weaker teams, most notably against the Green Bay Packers. The season was exacerbated further by the repeated coach changes, which garnered a lot of unwanted attention, especially in relation to the Wink Martindale problem. The unrest was exacerbated by the almost-loss of offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and the inability to sign top defensive coordinator targets.
The Giants desperately need a turnaround at this point, with a key focus on enhancing the roster across multiple positions. However, the quarterback position and Daniel Jones’ post-torn ACL plan continue to receive the most attention.
Despite signing a four-year, $160 million contract, Jones may effectively be used as a bridge quarterback by removing the 2024 option, which would result in $22.2 million in dead salary. If the Giants don’t prepare for the future and release salary space from his contract, they will be prohibited from signing free agents. However, they can restructure Dexter Lawrence’s contract. He has a $69.3 million dead money hit this upcoming season with a $47.1 cap hit.
Think about this: if the Giants split the contract between 2025 and 2026, they would save at least $20 million by cutting him after the 2025 season. It makes sense for them to draft a rookie quarterback, but they also need to prioritize keeping him safe.
