The New York Giants need to break out of their predictable draft habits, and that doesn't just mean changing the names on the card. It also means changing the approach altogether.
General manager Joe Schoen has developed a habit of playing it safe. The 46-year-old hasn't exactly manipulated the board or chased extra swings. In four drafts as GM, he's averaged 7.8 picks per year (inflated heavily by having 11 in his first year). Compare that to John Harbaugh, who averaged 8.9 picks across 18 years in Baltimore, and you can see where I'm going.
Schoen brought Harby in to change the culture, and that apparently includes how they attack the draft. Harbaugh made a living in Baltimore by stockpiling picks and taking more bites at the apple. So when Schoen was asked at the NFL Scouting Combine about potentially trading back, his response felt like a nod to that mindset... with some clear reservations:
"We're gonna look at all options. We're open to moving back if an opportunity is there. We're also fine staying and taking a pick."
John Harbaugh's influence could push Giants toward more draft picks
You know what they say, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But maybe you can nudge him a little. Schoen's comfort level staying put was a big "no, duh," yet even admitting there's a world where they trade back and acquire more assets feels like something fans haven't heard before.
Sounds like someone's been learning Harbaugh.
You might be sitting there and thinking to yourself, one extra pick per draft isn't that big of a difference. But the reality is that one more swing per year boosts the odds of the G-Men hitting on a prospect.
If you want proof that having more picks works more often than not, look no further than Schoen's first draft in New York. He traded back twice in 2022. The extra Day 3 picks turned into safety Dane Belton and linebacker Micah McFadden. Yet, he hasn't traded back since.
According to The Athletic's Dan Duggan, by not trading back in any of the last three drafts, Big Blue has averaged just 6.7 picks per draft. Compare that to Harby's Ravens, who had more than seven picks in 14 of his 18 drafts in Baltimore, and the philosophical gap becomes pretty obvious.
There doesn't seem to be many trade-up-worthy players at five, but 37 feels like prime trade-back territory. Maybe even twice. The Giants have seven picks and no third-rounder. Maybe Harby's influence has already opened Schoen's eyes to the radical idea that adding more young, cheap talent is actually a good thing.
It's not a coincidence Schoen didn't move back for three straight years and is suddenly open to it now that a future Hall of Fame coach is in the building. Harby built a successful 18-year career out of piling up picks and maximizing every swing. Funny how that works.