Giants 'Have to address quarterback position somewhere,' Joe Schoen says at NFL combine
INDIANAPOLIS – New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen was made available to the media Tuesday morning at the NFL combine. The first question Schoen received was about his now infamous decision to let running back Saquon Barkley test the market in free agency.
“I'm happy for Saquon. Obviously, went on to win the Super Bowl,” Schoen said. “Wishing nothing but the best. Always gonna evaluate all the decisions you make. And we were at a different place in our build. I love Saquon, and wishing (him) nothing but the best.”
The Philadelphia Eagles went on to sign Barkley during the 2024 free-agency period and proceeded to have a career year. The running back won NFL Offensive Player of the Year, broke the league record for most single-season rushing yards combined in the regular season and postseason and helped the Eagles win their second ever Super Bowl title.
What exacerbated Schoen’s choice is the Giants re-signed quarterback Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension the year before he flamed out in New York. Jones was released during the 2024 regular season as Barkley was simultaneously thriving in the City of Brotherly Love.
The Giants ranked 30th in total offense and 31st in points per game during a terrible 3-14 campaign.
Schoen and the Giants are entering the 2025 season with only one quarterback on the roster, Tommy DeVito, and in desperate need of a starter behind center.
“Tommy DeVito is our only quarterback on the roster,” Schoen said. “We're going to have to address the position somewhere. And even if you get a young quarterback, you'd like to have a vet in the room with them to show them the ropes and how to be a pro. So, you know, we're looking at all different avenues. It's, ‘Hey, this guy can be really good for a young quarterback, or is this guy a starter? Can we get a guy in the draft? Or if we do, should we have a guy that's more of a guy who can develop and show a guy how to be a pro?’ We're going to look at vets. We're going to look at the draft (and) we're going to look at trade candidates. We're gonna under every rock to find the best prospect for us going into 25 season.”
The Giants currently have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft, prime real estate to select one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft if they choose.
“We've got a lot of work to do on the number three pick. We've done a lot of work throughout the fall on the college prospects, but this phase of the calendar is getting to know who they are as people, what the fits gonna be,” Schoen explained. “We know we have an idea of three to five players, six players, whatever it may be, and move back scenarios. You can do that. We'll also look at moving up if that's a possibility. It's an exciting time of the year for us and a chance to make some change on our own roster. We'll look at all different scenarios.”
One scenario that’s going to come to fruition, though, is the Giants are going to add a quarterback this offseason. It’s just a matter of which avenue they decide to take.
“I think it's the most important position in football, and we have one (quarterback) on our roster,” Schoen said. “Wherever we address it, the play has to be better than it's been.”
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