Giants news, 2/29: NFLPA grades, Xavier McKinney, Brian Daboll, more headlines

New York Giants news on this leap year day

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

Giants’ players ‘almost unanimously’ dislike MetLife Stadium playing surface

New York Giants players “almost unanimously responded that they do not like playing on the synthetic surface” at MetLife Stadium, according to the results of the released on Wednesday by the NFL Players Association.

The Giants finished an excellent eighth overall in the second annual NFLPA-sponsored report card. The playing surface at MetLife Stadium, though, remains an issue despite a new FieldTurf Core playing surface having been installed before the 2023 NFL season.

Brian Daboll got an A+ in the ‘Head Coach’ category. That category graded Daboll’s management of player time and willingness to listen, not on game management or wins and losses. Co-owner John Mara got a B+ for his willingness to invest in the facilities.

More from Big Blue View

• Giants’ GM Joe Schoen explains getting on the coaches’ headset
• 2024 NFL Scouting Combine: Giants have formal meetings with all the top quarterbacks
• 7 prospects who could have the most to gain at the Combine
• Javon Solomon compared well to Osi Umenyiora at Troy, can he do that in the NFL?
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
• 2024 NFL Draft prospect profiles: Who will be Giants?

Other Giant observations

How new NFL salary cap could affect Giants in free agency | New York Post

With the massive increase, the New York Giants now have just shy of $31 million in salary cap space, according to Over the Cap. That leaves the Giants in the middle of the cap pack before they make any moves or contract adjustments to free up more space, if needed.

Xavier McKinney shares his free agency thoughts

NY Giants: Faith in Daniel Jones, but a QB is still in play in NFL Draft | The Record

The Giants will meet with the top prospects at the position this week, and that includes USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. They are believed to be the top four quarterbacks in the Class of 2024, all first-rounders that could go in the Top 10, and there’s a strong chance Williams, Maye and Daniels are taken with the top three picks.

Combine that with the reality the Giants met with Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., among others, at the Senior Bowl last month, and the presence of Jones will not stop Schoen and team brass from going down that road if the evaluation takes them there.

Here’s when Giants’ Brian Daboll might decide if he’ll call plays in 2024, says Joe Schoen | NJ.com

Giants coach Brian Daboll must do everything he can to save his job in 2024.

Yes, it’s possible that general manager Joe Schoen will draft a quarterback high this spring — which might give Daboll and Schoen job security beyond 2024.

What the Giants’ new defense will look like under Shane Bowen | Giants.com

Given the turnover on the staff, Schoen was asked if Daboll needs to handle his staff differently than his first two years as head coach.

“We are all going to learn and grow over time, but we have to,” Schoen said. “It’s the first time that we went through adversity. I’m sure there is a lot that we all learned about ourselves going through that and as leaders, myself included, we’ve all got to get better in terms of how we handle those situations, and I think we are all going to reflect this offseason on how things went and what we can do better, and I would put Dabs in that category as well.”

A look at the Giants home office in Indy this week

Highest-graded interior defensive linemen from the 2023 NFL season: New York Giants’ Dexter Lawrence comes in at No. 1 | PFF

1. Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants. Lawrence’s 93.0 PFF grade not only ranked first among all interior defenders, but it was also the second-best grade among all qualifying defenders. The Giants nose tackle was phenomenal in both facets of his game, finishing as the only interior player to earn an 85.0-plus grade as both a pass-rusher (92.6, the best at the position) and against the run (89.5).

32 NFL players who should change teams in the 2024 offseason | ESPN.com

WR Parris Campbell. It just didn’t work in his one season with the Giants. Campbell thrives in space working out of the slot, but his skill set is too similar to the one provided by Wan’Dale Robinson, a 2022 second-round pick whom the Giants are heavily invested in. Campbell went from 623 yards receiving his final year with the Colts to 104 yards this past season. A new home could be rejuvenating

Door is open for Saquon Barkley’s return to the Giants | FOX Sports

Barkley has said he wants a deal that’s “fair.” But what’s fair for him may be too expensive for the Giants. He is surely looking at the three-year, $42 million extension the Indianapolis Colts gave running back Jonathan Taylor during last season — though even that deal only included about $25 million in guarantees. But that deal is also an outlier in a running back market that has been increasingly depressed in recent years.

Mock Draft

2024 NFL Draft: Best-case scenarios for all 32 NFL teams | PFF

Ideal first pick: WR Malik Nabers, LSU

Malik Nabers is as explosive and versatile as any receiver in this draft. He is a dynamic threat out wide or in the slot. Brian Daboll could deploy him in a manner similar to when he had Stefon Diggs in Buffalo.

There may be a conundrum if one of the top three quarterbacks falls to the Giants’ sixth overall slot. They could also be in a prime spot to trade down. If Nabers is still on the board, though, they should take him and ask questions later.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Veteran quarterback carousel creates fascinating Round 1 | CBSSports.com

6. New York Giants: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan. I can’t see Joe Schoen leaving this first round without a quarterback. McCarthy has sky-high upside.

Around the league

Stephen Jones won’t share details on Dak Prescott negotiations: Our whole thing is ‘him being a Cowboy’ | NFL.com

Several teams expressing interest in trading for Eagles pass rusher Haason Reddick | CBSSports.com

Eagles’ Nick Sirianni on working with Kellen Moore: ‘It’s going to be a really good match’ | The Athletic

Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on parting with DC Vic Fangio: ‘I’d be lying if I said I was expecting that’ | NFL.com

FedEx bails on Commanders naming-rights deal | ESPN.com

Jets OK QB Zach Wilson to seek trade, won’t tag DE Bryce Huff | ESPN.com

Source – Chiefs release Marquez Valdes-Scantling, save $12M | ESPN.com

Report: Chiefs give L’Jarius Sneed permission to seek a trade | Pro Football Talk

Is a trade market developing for Justin Fields? | Windy City Gridiron

Like it or not, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is about to get PAID | The Phinsider

Quarterback continues to hold outsized importance for Falcons at Combine | The Falcoholic

Colts general manager intends to keep WR Michael Pittman with extension or franchise tag | NFL.com

Jerod Mayo: It’s going to be different here, but that’s not a shot at Bill Belichick’s regime | Pro Football Talk

Kevin Stefanski: Deshaun Watson is coming along, in a good place | Pro Football Talk

Smokescreen or Real Hype: Latest NFL Rumors Heading into 2024 Scouting Combine Week | Bleacher Report

As NFL draft nears, Caleb Williams and team intend to own the process | The Athletic

Predicting 2024 NFL Combine’s Fastest Players | The 33rd Team

Jayden Daniels’ NFL Draft stock has risen more than anyone, but will he live up to it? | Yahoo Sports

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