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EAST RUTHERFORD – It’s been on life support since the season kicked off, but now you can officially call it. Time of death on the Giants 2023 season: Nov. 3, 3:50 p.m.
The Giants lost to the Commanders on Sunday, 27-22 (it wasn’t that close), to drop their record to 2-7. They will not make the playoffs (again). Fans will spend Sundays refreshing Tankathon (again). Irrelevance reigns supreme (again).
It was just over a week ago that owner John Mara gave coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen a vote of confidence. It’s time to see how much those two believe it. If they do, there’s absolutely no reason the Giants shouldn’t put a “FOR SALE” sign inside the locker room.
Recoup whatever you can for anyone who won’t be part of this team in 2025 and beyond.
And that starts with wideout Darius Slayton and pass rusher Azeez Ojulari.
The Giants set out to close the gap between themselves and the hierarchy of the NFC East. Sure, they aspire for more, but it starts there. Somehow, they’ve dropped even further. Not only are the Eagles (5-2) and Cowboys (3-5) still better than the Giants, but they’ve been lapped by the Commanders (7-2), too. Washington’s victory over New York completed the season series sweep for the first time since 2021, which was the first time since 2011.
Sunday was a damning indictment of where the two organizations are. Washington has the far better quarterback with Jayden Daniels. Their offense has far more playmakers (Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler, Noah Brown), and they were without Brian Robinson. Their line looks legitimately improved under ex-Giants line coach Bobby Johnson. Their defense, while undermanned, disciplined and savvy enough to make plays when it matters. They held Giants quarterback Daniel Jones to zero yards on four of six passing in the first half.
The Giants are a quarterback, two receivers, tight end, right guard, long-term right tackle just on offense. The defense, absent their front, is littered with just as many needs. Cornerback Deonte Banks allowed two more touchdowns (league-leading six on the season). There is no corner opposite him. Andru Phillips is a nice player as a nickel, but the Giants also need a safety opposite Tyler Nubin assuming Nubin is good.
The Giants are set to have $48 million in salary cap space this offseason. They’ll add about $20 million more when they cut Jones. They hold four picks in the first four rounds. That’s good, but for a team with this many needs, acquiring assets now needs to become the top priority.
Schoen had the chance to re-sign both Slayton and Ojulari this offseason. Slayton actually held out hoping for a new deal. He did not. Now both seem destined for the open market where teams will assuredly pay more than the Giants are willing to offer.
They must trade either or both if there are any doubts at extending them. Not blind faith, either, that they accept team-friendly deals far below market average. If the Giants are willing to give them market value ($10M-plus annually for Slayton and likely $12 million annually for Ojulari), they must be dealt.
The Giants are absolutely a better team with the two. Slayton is their No. 2 receiver and, considering the amount of attention rookie Malik Nabers is drawing, their top performer in recent weeks. He has 22 catches for 347 yards and a touchdown in his last five games. Jalin Hyatt’s lack-of development makes Slayton important to this team, this year. Ojulari (five sacks in his last four games) is less important once Kayvon Thibodeaux returns off the injured reserve, but still an impressive pass-rushing specialist.
At 2-7, though, it’s not about this year anymore. This year is dead. It’s not about tanking – no NFL team actually tanks. But it is about doing what is in the best interest of the Giants long-term. What makes them the healthiest moving forward?
Holding on to two players who might help you steal games over equally-bad opponents like the Panthers and Saints? That’s relevant if you’re coaching or managing for your job. If you have assurances you will return because the owner understands the long-term view, then there is no point in holding onto players that will not be with this team when the Giants are ready to compete.
Move them. Recoup draft capital. Use that capital.
The Giants have leaked in recent days that they are not interested in simply giving their players away. They can be had for the right price – and just the right price. That’s fine to use and say as a negotiating ploy, but believing you’ll fetch some great return and not parting with anyone for less is absurd.
Sources told SNY the best thing the Giants can expect for each is somewhere around a fifth-round pick. That’s fine. Running back Tyrone Tracy was a fifth-round pick. So, too, was linebacker Micah McFadden. Getting a player like that for the next four years is far more important than holding on to Slayton and Ojulari for the next nine weeks.
Mara insisted changes are not coming. He doesn’t want to make them. He wants to stay the course.
Now it’s time to see if Schoen and Daboll believe him.
Will their actions follow his words?