How the Giants are embracing ‘different set of problems’ they face in Year 2 of Joe Schoen regime

How the Giants are embracing ‘different set of problems’ they face in Year 2 of Joe Schoen regime

PHOENIX — A year later, a year better.

That should be the case with Joe Schoen, the second-year general manager of the Giants.

At this time last year, Schoen was in Florida, walking around the Breakers Palm Beach resort, trying to get a handle on his new position during his first time at the NFL owners’ meetings as the man in charge of running a team.

He needed to improve his knowledge of the roster (much of which he inherited), to learn about the scouts and front office personnel he was handed, to upgrade the talent on the team despite extremely little salary-cap space and to grow more comfortable in his new, expanded role after serving as the assistant general manager in Buffalo.

This week, Schoen is at the Arizona Biltmore for his second owners’ meetings as the Giants’ front office leader.

He has mastered the strengths and weaknesses of his roster.

He retained some scouts and brought in newcomers to the department and his front office.


New York Giants GM Joe Schoen speaks to the media at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in East Rutherford, NJ.
After using his first trip to the NFL owners’ meetings to get a sense of what the Giants had, GM Joe Schoen arrived this week for his second trip to the event focused on what the franchise needs.Corey Sipkin for the NY Post

He spent some money in his second spin through free agency and filled several holes, including in the middle of the defense with the signing of linebacker Bobby Okereke.

And he showed his moxie during a prolonged negotiation with Daniel Jones that eventually ended up with a deal (four years, $160 million) that benefits the player and the team.

There is a feeling within the organization that everything is on the rise.

Brian Daboll was named Associated Press Coach of the Year after he guided the Giants to a 9-7-1 regular-season record and put the franchise in the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. The Giants even won a playoff game, on the road against the Vikings.

The strong belief is everything and everyone should be improved in Year 2.

Jones has the security of a long-term deal and considerable more knowledge of an offense that was new to him a year ago.

Saquon Barkley is back, albeit on the one-year franchise tag.

Daboll is another year into his head coaching career.


New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll speaks during the NFC head coaches availability at the NFL football meetings, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Phoenix.
With his coordinators back and a team that should be more comfortable with his system, Brian Daboll will head into his second season with the Giants surrounded by expectations to improve upon their 9-7-1 record in 2022.AP

Two of Daboll’s coordinators, Wink Martindale (defense) and Mike Kafka (offense), are back, which should be a boon to both sides of the ball.

Schoen is expected to be better, too.

His debut season as a general manager was about building a strong foundation. He did that.

He realizes the challenges he now is confronting are not the same the second time around.

“It’s a different set of problems,’’ Schoen said earlier this week. “Last year, it was easy to tell everybody you don’t have any money. And the year you have money, the agents tell you, ‘Well, you’ve got money. You pay this guy more.’ It was a different free agency for sure. You start off in a position of strength in terms of financially.

“I’m excited for Year 2. I’m excited for Dabs and his staff. I’m excited that we have continuity amongst the staff — both coordinators coming back that had chances to be head coaches. … To be able to get those guys back and the core nucleus of the team coming back — they know the offense, they know the defense. They know the culture. They know how we’re going to do things. They know what the calendar looks like. Dabs is going to take care of them at practice. So I’m just excited.

“Every year is new. We have a lot of work to do. We’ve got to build that chemistry for the 2023 team because 2022 doesn’t matter anymore.’’

A QB to call his own


Parris Campbell #1 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a pass in the second half of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas.
Parris Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Giants in hopes of developing the kind of chemistry with Daniel Jones he couldn’t create with any of the Colts’ many quarterbacks.Getty Images

Those who have been around Jones the past four years might not view him as a magnet, but that is what the most effective and most expensive NFL quarterbacks must be.

A franchise quarterback must attract top-caliber players to him.

By virtue of the hefty contract the Giants bestowed upon him, Jones, in addition to everything else he must do to justify this faith and investment, has to be someone who can convince others to join him.

That brings us to wide receiver Parris Campbell, who in his four-year NFL career has not been able to find a quarterback to hitch his wagon to and take a ride together.

The 25-year old former Colt recently signed a one-year contract with the Giants, hoping his stay will last longer than that. If it does, it will be because he and Jones developed a chemistry in 2023 that the Giants believe will benefit both moving forward.

In his four years with the Colts, Campbell battled injuries, appearing in just 15 total games his first three years before posting a healthy 2022 in which he played all 17 games.

He wasn’t able to build much of a rapport with a quarterback because the Colts cycled through so many of them: Jacoby Brissett and Brian Hoyer in 2019, Philip Rivers in 2020, Carson Wentz in 2021, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles in 2022.

A different quarterback every year is no way to run a franchise.

“It’s definitely tough — definitely tough as a receiver going through so many different changes with so many quarterbacks,’’ Campbell said. “Then, especially last year, playing with three quarterbacks in one season, it’s definitely tough because you want to build a rapport with a guy and keep it consistent throughout the season and build that chemistry. Just with so much change, it’s hard to do that.


Parris Campbell #1of the Indianapolis Colts reaches to score a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Campbell caught 63 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Colts, all career highs for the four-year veteran.Getty Images

“As a receiver, it’s like you’ve got to change what you want to do, running routes. You’ve got to be on the same page as the different quarterbacks. Some guys like other things, certain routes. It’s … hard to get it consistent and get on the same page with so many guys.

“…I’m excited, being here now in New York, getting to build a rapport with Daniel Jones. I’m excited for what’s to come.’’

The day Campbell agreed to terms with the Giants, he received a text message from Jones that said Jones was a big fan of Campbell’s game, a message Campbell admitted “got me excited.’’ Campbell was in Arizona at the time, which prompted Jones to make an offer his new receiver has no intention of refusing.

“He’s like, ‘I’ve got to get out to Arizona. Let’s get to work,’’’ Campbell said. “That’s what you want. You’re a new guy coming in, a new piece to the offense, and the quarterback is already like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get some work together.’ That’s just so welcoming. That’s so promising. I’m ready to build on a relationship with him and create a rapport with him. … I haven’t really stopped smiling since I agreed to come here.’’

It is the way the Giants want all their players to feel about working with their newly re-signed quarterback.

Opine away


Jordan Addison #3 of the USC Trojans runs in for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Stanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Stanford, California.
Jordan Addison is the type of slot receiver ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. believes could fit in seamlessly with the Giants’ passing offense.Getty Images

Everyone has a take on the NFL Draft. Every player. Every team. Every pick.

Very few of these takes are built upon inside information about what players a team actually likes. Most mock drafts match need and team with a splash of common sense. They might be logical, but they usually are not steeped in accuracy.

This is why they are called mock drafts.

This week, two top draft analysts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, weighed in on who the Giants should take with the No. 25 overall pick. Their selections make sense:

Kiper: WR Jordan Addison, USC

“Addison put up huge numbers for Pitt and USC over the past three seasons, and he could be a plug-and-play starter, getting reps in the slot and outside,” Kiper wrote. “This is how the Giants’ passing offense can take a big step forward.”

Jeremiah: OL Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin


Joe Tippmann #75 of the Wisconsin Badgers pass blocks against the Washington State Cougars at Camp Randall Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Tippmann could be another valuable addition to a blocking unit the Giants have tried to rebuild the past few years.Getty Images

“The Giants did a nice job adding some much-needed speed to the skill positions in free agency,” Jeremiah wrote. “Tippmann would team up with two young, talented offensive tackles to protect Daniel Jones for the foreseeable future.”

Asked and answered

Here are two questions that have come up recently that we will attempt to answer as accurately as possible:

How important are Pro Days in the overall evaluation of players leading up to the NFL Draft?

Everything is important, but having players from one college program work out at their school facility is a safe haven of sorts. The NFL scouts in attendance have no say in what the players do and do not do on the field.

This is a marked difference from the scouting combine, where NFL coaches run the drills. A Pro Day is more of a showcase for the player to show what he wants to show.

The workouts for quarterbacks, for example, are scripted, which is why so many end with glowing reports about how a player “killed it’’ or “the ball never hit the ground.’’

Front-office executives and coaches do get to chat with the prospects, speak with their college coaches and even take players out to dinner, so there is information to be gleaned. It is all part of the process.

Is it too much to expect Bobby McCain to step into a starting role at safety and play up to the level Julian Love performed at in 2022?


Bobby McCain #20 of the Washington Commanders defends against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Houston, Texas.
Bobby McCain may not provide the same coverage as Julian Love, but he won’t cost the Giants anywhere near the $12 million deal Love signed with the Seahawks.Getty Images

If you look at the economics of the move from Love to McCain, the answer to this is … probably.

The Giants appreciated what Love brought to the field and the locker room, but clearly did not prioritize him as a free agent they absolutely needed to retain.

Love signed with the Seahawks, getting a two-year, $12 million deal.

The Giants signed McCain to a one-year, veteran minimum contract.

Right there is a discrepancy. If you believe “you get what you pay for,” this is a downgrade. We’ll see if that is true or not.

There are no guarantees McCain will start. Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton could beat him out.

McCain did start a combined 45 games the past three seasons — with the Dolphins in 2020 and the past two years with the Commanders — but there was not exactly a rush to sign him around the league.