‘Hard Knocks’ takeaways: ‘This is the year for Daniel’

The debut episode of ‘Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants’ aired Tuesday night. Here are some of the takeaways from an episode in which the closing minutes made it clear GM Joe Schoen is making the upcoming season a referendum on quarterback Daniel Jones.

Saquon Barkley decision

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

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

No franchise tag for Barkley, with Schoen saying that “doesn’t make any sense”. Let Barkley test the free-agent market with the understanding/hope that Barkley would give the Giants a chance to match. Schoen, though, warned Mara that “it only takes one [team] to maybe be open to doing something.”

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

“Daniel’s making a lot of money. We gotta figure out is he the guy, so we’ve gotta protect him,” Schoen told Mara. “We need to put resources there.”

Mara was hopeful to keep Barkley.

“In a perfect world I’d like to have him back,” Mara said. “Until we can prove we can have a decent offense without him.”

Schoen was not convinced the Giants would be able to trade Barkley if they tagged him again, and clearly did not want to play him $12 million. Assistant Director of Player Personnel Dennis Hickey said a Barkley trade would be a “Hail Mary.”

You could see that there was skepticism from some in the front office about what life would look like without Barkley.

Rossetti asked Schoen if the team was “positive” no one would give Barkley a big contract. Early in the episode, Rossetti pinpointed the Eagles and Lions as teams that might make a play for Barkley.

Schoen was clearly concerned about the mileage on Barkley’s 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’ve gotta upgrade the offensive line and you’re paying the guy $40 million,” Schoen said. “It’s not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back.

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

“This is the year for Daniel,” he said. “Plan all along was give him a couple years. Is he our guy for the next 10 years or do we need to pivot and find somebody else?”

‘$40 million question mark’

That’s what the episode narrator called Jones. That, of course, is right on the money.

“Facts. Three serious injuries in two years. We need to protect ourselves,” Schoen said. “He didn’t have much of a chance this year. That’s legit … your core guys that were gonna play together played less than 60 snaps together. Miami we had three practice squad guys playing for us. You would have Pat Mahomes and he can’t win behind that.

“I’m not giving up on him. He’s 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 “best predictor of the future is the past.”

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

Jones spent most of his offseason in New Jersey rehabbing.

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

Seeds of trade for Brian Burns

The Giants were discussing the possibility of acquiring Burns, with Rossetti bringing him up as a potential target, before Carolina Panthers GM Dan Morgan let Schoen know Burns could be had for the right price.

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

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

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

That, obviously didn’t hurt in bringing Burns to the Giants.

Rossetti told Schoen it would take a “one plus, for sure.” Meaning that the Giants thought they would need to give up a first-round pick to acquire him.

The Giants ended up giving 2024 second- and fifth-round selections (Nos. 39 and 141 overall, respectively) and a 2025 conditional fifth-rounder to the Panthers for Burns and a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 166). A bargain compared to what they thought it would cost.

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 long-time Giants fans:

“We’re going to be structured by having four elite pass rushers up front. Four guys who can line up, put their damn hand down, go win.”

Funny stuff

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

Star of the show

I talked a bit about Rossetti throughout the sections above. He got a ton of air time Tuesday night, and acquitted himself well. He is obviously someone whose opinion is highly-valued. He looked and sounded prepared and asked good, pointed questions.