After two episodes of planting seeds, we finally got to see the spectacle that is the NFL free-agency frenzy with the third installment of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants.”
The episode covers a lot of ground — including the stress level of general manager Joe Schoen and other Giants executives during free agency, the offensive line upgrades, the Brian Burns blockbuster and the team’s quarterback situation — but the dominating storyline was running back Saquon Barkley’s departure to division rival the Philadelphia Eagles. So let’s begin there.
In case you missed it:
Episode 1 recap: Exploring a Saquon Barkley trade and ‘not giving up’ on Daniel Jones
Episode 2 recap: Malik Nabers piques interest at NFL combine
Down to the wire with Barkley
We all know how the Barkley saga ended. He signed a three-year, $37.8 million contract with Philadelphia, and we’ll get into the negotiations, but the “Hard Knocks” footage provided fascinating insight into the emotion surrounding the situation.
That comes about halfway through the episode as co-owner John Mara heads into Schoen’s office when the news breaks that Barkley is indeed headed to Philadelphia. Director of pro scouting Chris Rossetti announces the details from his phone to Schoen and Mara.
Mara says, “All right,” as he turns to head out of the office before Schoen chimes in, “We’re going to be fine.”
“I think we will be, too,” says Mara, who walks out.
It’s one of the key moments of the episode, which begins with the Giants’ decision not to use the franchise tag on the running back. As the two previous episodes showed, the Giants settled on letting Barkley test free agency with the idea the running back would bring an offer back to New York to potentially match.
That scenario plays out early in Episode 3 as Schoen hops on the phone with Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry. Schoen asks Berry, “In order to get Saquon, what would we have to do?”
That ends up being a three-year deal with a $12.5 million average with $25 million guaranteed. Schoen calls Mara explaining how he told Berry that if he calls back with those numbers, they can bring Barkley in that day. But, as Schoen tells Mara, there wasn’t an immediate yes or no from Berry. Rather, Schoen says, the hemming and hawing from Berry indicated it might not be smooth sailing.
At noon ET on March 11, when negotiations can begin, Mara walks into Schoen’s office asking for the latest on Barkley. At that point, the seeds of the future are being planted with Barkley’s market seemingly increasing, with those in the room not fully knowing what’s true in the reports.
“I’m going to have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly, I’ll tell you that,” Mara says. “I’ve been around enough players. He’s the most popular player we have by far.”
Schoen later talks with Berry again in a conversation where he says, “We’re out,” as Barkley’s price point goes beyond what the Giants can do while addressing other areas of the roster.
GO DEEPER
Giants roster breakdown: One thought on Daniel Jones and every player on offense
Xavier McKinney’s departure
One major free-agent departure not as well-documented was that of Xavier McKinney. The safety signed a four-year, $67 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, leaving a major hole in the Giants secondary.
In earlier episodes, McKinney was mentioned in context of the salary cap being a higher number than initially expected. The safety was also brought up during the NFL Scouting Combine, when Schoen proposed making an offer to McKinney that would be “enticing” but that also came with the understanding that “this may be off the table come next week.”
That was the extent of the McKinney negotiations because the next time McKinney is mentioned is when his departure to Green Bay is announced. Schoen is on the phone saying, “Oh, my God,” as he learns that McKinney got nearly $17 million a year from the Packers, making him the second-highest-paid safety in the league.
Though it would have been interesting to see more behind the scenes of these negotiations, it’s not too surprising the Giants lost McKinney given that he didn’t seem to be among their top priorities, which included bringing back Barkley and re-signing quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
Offensive line takes priority
Watching this episode is like watching Schoen and company put together a puzzle with half the pieces hiding under the carpet. Early in the episode, we watch Schoen meet with coach Brian Daboll on March 11, with five hours to go before things get off the wall. They go over their position and player priorities to the tune of Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em.” The two come to a consensus on the offensive line being a No. 1 need, and no one can argue with that logic. We learn the targets are Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr. and Robert Hunt. Eluemunor and Runyan signed with the Giants, but the episode highlights the negotiations that Schoen and his people had to do to sign both players.
The New York Jets were also targeting Packers guard Runyan, with Giants senior vice president of football operations and strategy Kevin Abrams coming into Schoen’s office to explain the Jets’ offer: a two-year deal at $9 million a year with $17 million guaranteed. The Giants’ deal also needed to be upped because of the Aaron Rodgers and Nathaniel Hackett Green Bay ties for Runyan. The Giants upped the offer: a three-year, $30 million deal with $17 million guaranteed. Runyan signed with the Giants.
Director of football operations Ed Triggs was the point person on Eluemunor’s negotiations, and we see how the number had to go up on the Giants’ side before he signed a two-year, $14 million deal.
As Schoen polls the room, Rossetti offers this interesting line: “He’s going to be our starting right tackle or starting left guard.” Though the Giants needed offensive line depth, it’s an acknowledgment of how fluid Evan Neal’s position seemed at the time and what could change as the Giants’ right tackle and 2022 pick recovers from an ankle injury.
Brian Burns trade finalized
The previous two episodes teased the negotiations between the Carolina Panthers and the Giants when it came to a deal for Pro Bowler Burns. We see the conclusion of those between Schoen and Panthers GM Dan Morgan as they get down to the finalities of the deal.
Joe Schoen’s final negotiations to seal the Brian Burns trade
New episode of #HardKnocks Offseason with the New York Giants airs tonight at 9pm ET on @StreamOnMax #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/gV9na2G16M
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 16, 2024
“What are we doing, Dan? Why do we need to add on a seventh, Dan?” Schoen said on a phone call with Morgan. “Like, c’mon. You and I are going to be doing this a long time, hopefully.”
The two friends come to a deal, and Burns ends up in New York in exchange for 2024 second- and fifth-round picks and a 2025 fifth-rounder. New York also got a 2024 fifth-round pick.
Quick hits
• As part of the March 11 discussion between Daboll and Schoen, they get into the quarterback plan and potential free-agent backups. Top targets were Taylor, Drew Lock, Sam Darnold and Gardner Minshew, but Daboll said, “I would take Tyrod (pause) over all these guys.”
Then came this interaction:
Daboll: “So then we’d have the same quarterback room as last year.”
Schoen: “Yeah. For now. See what happens.”
Obviously, the context could be just how free agency plays out, but it also might tease the Giants’ potential draft plans about a top quarterback.
• Taylor ended up signing with the Jets, leaving the Giants to find a different backup on Day 2 of free agency. Once again, Mara came to Schoen’s office, and the GM explained why the deal didn’t work with the Giants: injuries and the price point. Schoen mentioned other available players like Joe Flacco and Lock. Schoen said the Seattle Seahawks really wanted Lock to return, likely resulting in a bidding war. It led to this really interesting conversation (especially after ensuing speculation on what pitch was made to Lock).
“Our sale to Drew Lock,” Schoen says, “is, ‘Hey, we had (Mitch) Trubisky in Buffalo as a backup. He went on and got paid by Pittsburgh. We had Tyrod for two years. He went and got a raise.’ Just selling the opportunity, Daniel (Jones’) uncertainty with his health, that situation.”
“Walk in here, you’re the No. 1 until he comes back,” Mara said.
“All spring until he comes back,” Schoen said. “Yeah.”
The Giants signed Lock to a one-year, $5 million deal.
• Ronnie Barnes, the Giants senior vice president, medical services/head athletic trainer was in the office with Schoen when Abrams came in to announce the Runyan deal was done. He offered input on Runyan’s durability.
(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)