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New York Giants Mailbag: Roster Construction Edition

Let's check in with the readers to see what's on their minds.
Patricia Traina|
New York Giants Mailbag: Roster Construction Edition
New York Giants Mailbag: Roster Construction Edition

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New York Giants

If you'd like to submit a question for the mailbag, please use this link to avoid having your question land in spam. You may also post your questions on X (formerly known as Twitter) to @Patricia_Traina, hashtag #askPTrain. Please note that letters may be edited for clarity/length.

(From Kevin M.) If you look at all the players that GM Shoen has drafted, traded for, or signed as free agents, it is hard to pick anyone who has not underperformed. Maybe JMS is the only one who looks promising. I don’t think it is too early to question him on his selections. Do you agree?

Yes and no. Regarding the draft classes, you need to give them at least three years before reaching a conclusion. I also think last year's class was snake bit by injuries, which clouds any assessment.

As for the free agents, Okereke is starting to round into shape and become more comfortable with this defense. I'm not sure why Hodgins has seen a decrease in his snaps--the only reason I can think of is that they feel they have guys who can separate better. I don't know why Waller hasn't been featured more--could it be because of the offensive line?

Banks has been playing lights out, and Thibodeaux leads the defense in sacks. So there are bright spots among what's been a similar season. I don't understand why Isaiah Simmons isn't used more as a rusher on defense. I also don't see them getting much from Boogie Basham or Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Overall, I think we all knew this wouldn't be an overnight rebuild. I think last year's success masked many issues on this team, and I question some of the decisions made regarding some areas where they lack depth (OLB comes to mind). I'm not ready to say Schoen and Daboll failed in their attempt to build up this team, considering the injury situation, but I agree that the brass has made some head-scratching decisions.

Brito, I wish I knew the answer to that. The best guess I can give you is they believe they can manufacture pressure and move quarterbacks off their spots in other ways and with other players, which hasn't always been the case thus far.

(From Tim R.) Elite quarterbacks find a way to win. Joe Burrow went to the Super Bowl with one of the worst lines in the league. Maybe someone new in a historically loaded 2024 draft?

Tim, the Giants were drafting 26th this year, way too low to get a franchise quarterback. They didn't like the free agent options, so they went with Daniel Jones, with whom they're familiar and who had had some success in their system.

BUT--and here's the key thing--they didn't give Jones a blockbuster multiyear contract like Burrow, Josh Allen, or Justin Herbert received from their respective teams. The Giants structured Jones's contract to where they can get out of it after next year (barring a trade, which would help them with cap savings). That right there spoke volumes about what they think about the quarterback situation.

Now, could the Giants draft a quarterback next April? Depends on where they end up drafting. Right now, this team has very few assets to trade up if they need to unless they make a deal or two at the trade deadline, which I believe they will.

And if they bring in a young quarterback, maybe we have another situation like in 2004 when Kurt Warner held down the fort until Eli Manning was ready to take over.

Tough to call. I get the impression that they are leaning toward moving on from him, as I know they like Dane Belton and want to get him into the mix more. But McKinney can do so much- we haven't seen enough impact plays from him this year. That said, let's see what the rest of the year brings.

(From Jessie F.) What do you plan to do about the offensive line? Because they are not giving Daniel Jones enough time in the pocket and forcing bad plays.

Hi Jessie. It's not my call on what to do with the offensive line, which has been wrecked by injuries this year and which, for the last several years, the coaching has been suspect (See Ereck Flowers and Will Hernandez as guys who have gone on to thrive once they left New York.)

That said, the quarterback also needs to get the ball out of his hand as quickly as possible, and I don't think we can say that's always been the case.

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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