‘Hard Knocks’ findings: ‘This is the year for Daniels’

first episode of ,hard Knocks:with offseason New York Giants, Aired on Tuesday nights. Here are some excerpts from an episode in which the closing minutes made it clear that GM Joe Schoen is holding a referendum on quarterback Daniel Jones in the upcoming season.

saquon barkley decision

The show made it clear that the front office was discussing free agent options to replace Barkley if he moved on just days after the season ended. Director of pro scouting Chris Rosetti discussed options like Devin Singletary, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Zack Moss.

The Barkley discussion turned serious after the Super Bowl when Schoen explained his plan to co-owner John Mara at a February 13 meeting. That plan?

No franchise tag for Barkley, with Schoen saying “it doesn’t make sense”. Let Barkley test the free-agent market with the understanding/hope that Barkley will give the Giants a chance to break even. However, Schoen warned Mara that “it only takes one (team) to be ready to do something.”

Use the money saved to try and build a better offensive line to help Daniel Jones.

“Daniel is making a lot of money. We have to find out if he’s the same guy, so we have to protect him,” Schoen told Mara. “We need to put resources in there.”

Mara hoped to retain Barkley.

“In an ideal world I would like to have him back,” Mara said. “Until we prove we can run a good offense without him.”

Schoen wasn’t sure he would be able to trade Barkley if the Giants tagged him again, and he clearly didn’t want to play the $12 million game with him. Assistant Director of Player Personnel Dennis Hickey said a Barkley trade would be a “Hail Mary”.

You can see some people in the front office were skeptical about what life would be like without Barkley.

Rossetti asked Schoen why no one would have given Barkley a big contract if the team had been “positive”. At the beginning of the episode, Rossetti pointed to the Eagles and Lions as teams that Barkley could play for.

Schoen was clearly concerned about the upside Barkley had on his 27-year-old body, including the 773 touches he got at Penn State.

Director of Player Personnel Tim McDonnell wanted to know what the offensive identity would be without Barkley.

“We have to upgrade the offensive line and you’re paying that guy $40 million,” Schoen said. “This is not to hand the ball back $12 million.

Schoen made it clear that 2024 is likely Jones’ last chance.

“This is Daniel’s year,” he said. “The whole plan was to give him a few years. Is he our man for the next 10 years or do we need to find someone else?

‘$40 million question mark’

That’s what the episode’s narrator told Jones. Of course, it’s right on the money.

“Fact. Three serious injuries in two years. We need to protect ourselves,” said Schoen. “They haven’t had much of a chance this year. It’s legit… Your core guys that were supposed to play together, they Played less than 60 snaps together. Miami, we had three guys playing for us. You’d have Pat Mahomes and he couldn’t win behind him.

“I’m not leaving him. He is under contract for three more years.”

Schoen told assistant GM Brandon Brown and director of player personnel Tim McDonnell that the Giants needed to protect themselves because “the best predictor of the future is the past.”

This led to the Giants signing Drew Lock in free agency.

Jones spent most of his offseason in New Jersey rehabbing.

“At times you feel like you’re not making as much progress,” he said of rehab. “I mean, I’ve had broken bones and I’ve been hurt, but it’s not where there’s a long process of rehabilitation.”

business seeds for brian burns

The Giants were discussing the possibility of acquiring Burns, with Rosetti bringing him up as a potential target, before Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan told Schoen that Burns could be acquired for the right price.

“When you’re at an event it’s an opportunity to gather information,” Schoen said during Tuesday’s episode.

Morgan opened a door for his friend Schoen with the information at the Senior Bowl, and the Giants took advantage.

Schoen also revealed that he and Morgan have a long history dating back to Morgan’s 2001 rookie season, and that their families are “extremely tight”.

Obviously there was no harm in bringing Burns to the Giants.

Rossetti told Schoen that this would require “definitely a plus”. Meaning the Giants thought they would have to give up a first-round pick to acquire him.

The Giants ultimately traded 2024 second- and fifth-round selections (No. 39 and 141 overall, respectively) and the Panthers traded a 2025 conditional fifth-rounder and a 2024 fourth-round selection (No. 166) for Burns. It’s a cheaper deal than what they thought.

familiar defensive style

You may have seen the clip before the show aired, but new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s defensive philosophy is one that should be familiar to longtime Giants fans:

“We’re going to be structured with four elite pass rushers up front. The four people who can line up, put their hands down, win.

funny acts

• While driving and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Schoen told a story about eating a PB&J sandwich while driving in New Jersey after becoming the Giants’ GM.
• Schoen’s grandmother is trying to convince him to draft Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman. “My grandmother loves him. She’s like ‘What do you think about Hartman, Joe? He is so cute. I may be 93 years old, but I’m not blind.

star of the show

I talked a little about Rossetti in all the sections above. He got a lot of air time on Tuesday night and acquitted himself well. He is clearly someone whose opinion is highly valued. He seemed presentable and prepared and asked good, clear questions.