The New York Giants (5-9) had their three-game profitable streak snapped with Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints (7-7), which seemingly put an finish to their slim playoff hopes. Listed below are the three greatest takeaways from the sport for the Giants.
Draft place might have worsened, however their three-game win streak wasn’t a waste
New York regarded like one of many worst groups within the NFL and appeared destined to contend for the primary total decide in subsequent April’s draft when QB Daniel Jones suffered his season-ending ACL tear final month. Nevertheless, the surprising emergence of rookie QB Tommy DeVito resulted within the Giants taking part in their approach out of vary for a prime decide.
Profitable is not probably the most fascinating consequence in an in any other case misplaced season, however the Giants proved throughout their just lately ended profitable streak that their future can nonetheless be vibrant even with out the No. 1 total decide.
Regardless of guiding the workforce to an inconceivable playoff run final season, the Giants teaching workers confronted severe doubts about whether or not they have been the precise rent after getting blown out in six of their first 10 video games of 2023. It appeared that frustrations within the locker room have been at their breaking level and there have been even reviews claiming that DC Wink Martindale could be dismissed by the top of the season.
However, after stringing collectively wins with an undrafted rookie quarterback whereas having the protection rack up two-thirds of final season’s turnover whole in a three-game stretch, it is clear HC Brian Daboll’s workers is provided to steer their rebuild. The Giants seemingly missed out on quarterback prospects Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, however with a coach like Daboll, who has succeeded with Jones, DeVito and Tyrod Taylor, they’ve a a lot brighter outlook than different rebuilding groups.
RB Saquon Barkley’s dud foreshadows a well-known state of affairs for this offseason
Barkley was a non-factor on Sunday, speeding for 14 yards – the fifth-fewest single-game whole of his profession – and catching two passes for 23 yards. Whereas it is easy to say that the Giants ought to’ve given their finest participant extra touches, it is not significantly difficult to sport plan for an offense primarily pushed by a working again, which highlights the dilemma with Barkley. Despite the fact that the two-time Professional Bowler continues to be the spine of the Giants, it is inevitable that he’ll face comparable contract negotiations as final offseason.
Again in July, New York inked Barkley to a one-year, $11 million deal after a number of failed makes an attempt to agree on a multi-year contract. Anybody-year contract carries little danger and whereas Barkley has lived as much as his finish of the deal by averaging the sixth-most speeding yards per sport (78.3), he has additionally validated the Giants’ worries about signing him long-term.
An intensive harm historical past on the most replaceable place within the sport raised apparent issues for New York and considerably contributed to Barkley’s sophisticated negotiations. The issues have been shortly justified as Barkley suffered a excessive ankle sprain in Week 2 that compelled him to overlook three video games, none of which the Giants received. It is obvious the Giants want an efficient Barkley to achieve success, but after one other season of accidents and tread on his tires, the workforce is dealing with an equally tough offseason of negotiations with their star participant.
Re-signing Barkley would make the Giants a greater workforce in 2024, however giving him something greater than the multi-year extension value $13 million yearly they supplied him last offseason might show to be a expensive mistake. Contemplating the franchise tag shall be value $12.4 million for subsequent season, maybe New York might persuade Barkley to surrender his pursuit of a long-term deal in alternate for the slight enhance in wage.
GM Joe Schoen ought to tackle this place within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft
Though the Giants should revamp an offensive line that has allowed probably the most sacks within the NFL (76) this offseason, they should not make investments one other first-round decide into the unit. As a substitute, with as loaded a large receiver class as we have seen in years, New York ought to try to lastly safe a No. 1 weapon for Jones.
After ending with the sixth-fewest receiving yards final season (3,431), the Giants added to their receiving corps by way of the draft and free company. Whereas the workforce improved on paper, most notably by buying and selling for TE Darren Waller and drafting WR Jalin Hyatt, that pair has mixed for only one landing and 767 of the Giants’ 2,533 receiving yards, the fewest of any workforce.
Based on Tankathon, the Giants are projected to pick out seventh total within the 2024 NFL Draft, although it is nonetheless potential they may find yourself with a top-five decide. Even so, they’d nonetheless be out of vary for Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr., who’s arguably the very best participant within the draft however could be in place to land LSU’s Malik Nabers, the nation’s main receiver.