With the offseason about to get into full swing, the Giants.com crew looks at the major storylines for the team heading into 2023:
John Schmeelk: How do the Giants take the next step? Let's have GM Joe Schoen explain where the Giants are in the NFL hierarchy, and whether there is still a gap between them and the Eagles.
Said Schoen: "Yeah, I know Philly more intimately. And, yeah, I would say yes - there's a talent gap there that we need to close, and to me, it's the NFC East. I mean, we were 1-5-1 against the NFC East. If you win the division, the rest takes care of itself. So, that's always going to be a goal of ours: to close that gap and be NFC East champs. That's the goal, and that's what we're going to work towards."
In the NFL this season, there were 16 teams that finished with between seven and nine wins. That's half the league! From season to season, usually half the teams that make the playoffs can change from year to year. Every one of those teams will be trying to improve this off-season, and the Giants will be no different. First, they have to bring back their best players, but someone else will cover that in the contributions below. So, how will the Giants add to the roster?
There are three ways: trade, free agency, and the draft. Trades for upper echelon players are usually pricey when it comes to draft capital, so take that off the table. Free agency can cost a big chunk of salary cap space, but the Giants should have some room to do business in that area. The team must also be prudent and plan for the future with young cornerstones like Dexter Lawrence, Xavier McKinney, and Andrew Thomas coming off their rookie contracts within the next two seasons. A team can't fill every hole in free agency, which leaves the draft.
The Giants have nine draft picks right now, including extra picks in Rounds 3 and 7. They could score a couple of extra compensatory picks late on Day 3, too. With a young team, and the organization still in the early years of a new regime, the draft is the way to build the team. The Giants don't pick until No. 25 overall, so it will be a bit tougher than in past years to find true impact players. Despite that disadvantage, it will still be the main avenue for the team to build out the roster.
It does not appear to be as strong of a wide receiver class as in past years, but good players at that position can often be found well into say Day 2, and potentially into Day 3. It is a strong draft at cornerback, which could make that an interesting target at the end of the first round. Or how about an inside linebacker? They could get the first one off the board. It will be fun to see what positions they target in free agency versus the draft as the off-season moves forward, but it is way too early to know that now.
Dan Salomone: Before they "close that gap" with outside additions, the Giants have decisions to make in-house. Several prominent Giants players are unrestricted free agents, notably Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Like he said in both his introductory press conference and season-ending media session a year later, general manager Joe Schoen knew the "cupboard wasn't bare" and 2022 bore that out. The Giants expressed hey want both players back, but all parties involved know there is a business side to it.
"Everybody is going to step back, take the emotion out of it, evaluate the roster and then, again, we've got to operate under the salary cap," Schoen said. "How are you going to divvy up? How are we going to create the roster? What are the priority positions, and how are we going to move forward?"
This storyline is the first domino that sets the next six months into place.
Re-live the season with the best photos from the Giants' 2022 playoff campaign.


Leonard Williams (99)

Daniel Jones (8)

The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)

Richie James (80) Darius Slayton (86)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Darius Slayton (86)

Head Coach Brian Daboll

Adoree' Jackson Dane Belton

Dexter Lawrence (97)

Daniel Jones (8)

New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) catches a 2 point conversion during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )

Xavier McKinney (29)

Isaiah Hodgins (18)

Saquon Barkley (26) Matt Breida (31) Nick Gates (65)

Carter Coughlin (52)

Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Jones (8)

The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)



Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Xavier McKinney (29), Adoree' Jackson (22)

New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (18) makes a touchdown catch during a NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday December 4, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )


Dexter Lawrence (97)

Jihad Ward (55)

Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)


Sterling Shepard

New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday December 24, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )


Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)


Landon Collins (21)

Jihad Ward (55)

Daniel Bellinger David Sills V


Daniel Bellinger (82)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Dexter Lawrence


Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley Mark Glowinski Daniel Bellinger

Daniel Jones (8)

Julian Love (20)

Graham Gano (9), Casey Kreiter (58)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)

Jihad Ward (55)


Julian Love (20)

Darnay Holmes (30)

Darnay Holmes (30), Adoree' Jackson (22), Tony Jefferson (36), Julian Love (20), Tomon Fox (49)

Daniel Jones (8)

Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Daniel Bellinger (82), Kenny Golladay (19)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Dane Belton (24)

Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)

Darnay Holmes Julian Love Dane Belton

Ryder Anderson, Dane Belton (24), Leonard Williams (99), Tomon Fox (49), Dexter Lawrence (97), Jaylon Smith (54)

Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)

Jaylon Smith (54), Dane Belton (24), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20), Leonard Williams (99), Fabian Moreau (37), Nick McCloud (44), Xavier McKinney (29)

Saquon Barkley

Xavier McKinney (29)

Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22)


Darnay Holmes (30)

Saquon Barkley

Jihad Ward (55)

Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)

Jaylon Smith (54)

Darius Slayton (86)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Andrew Thomas (78)

Jihad Ward (55)

Dexter Lawrence (97), D.J. Davidson (98)

Richie James (80)

Nick Williams (93)

Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Jamie Gillan (6), Graham Gano (9)

Daniel Jones (8), Saquon Barkley (26)

Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76), Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Jones (8)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Ben Bredeson (68), Mark Glowinski (64), Jon Feliciano (76)

Saquon Barkley (26)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26)


Saquon Barkley (26)


Saquon Barkley (26)


Xavier McKinney (29)


Julian Love (20)

Adoree' Jackson (22), Aaron Robinson (33), Nick Williams (93), Tae Crowder (48), Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), Dexter Lawrence (97), Justin Ellis (71)

Micah McFadden (41), Azeez Ojulari (51)


Daniel Bellinger (82)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Tanner Hudson (88), Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Daniel Jones (8)

David Sills V (13), Daniel Bellinger (82), Tanner Hudson (88)

Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)


Daniel Bellinger (82)

Saquon Barkley (26), Matt Breida (31)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26), Sterling Shepard (3)

Jihad Ward (55)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Head Coach Brian Daboll

Saquon Barkley (26)

Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Nick Williams (93), Oshane Ximines (53), Julian Love (20)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Andrew Thomas (78)

Julian Love (20), Cor'Dale Flott (28)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Sterling Shepard (3)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)

Richie James (80)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Nick McCloud (44), Julian Love (20)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Evan Neal (73)

Andrew Thomas (78)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Gary Brightwell (23), Matt Breida (31)

Darius Slayton (86)

Evan Neal (73)

Dexter Lawrence (97)

Darnay Holmes (30)

Darnay Holmes (30)

Dexter Lawrence (97), Tae Crowder (48)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Xavier McKinney (29), Darnay Holmes (30)

Saquon Barkley (26)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Daniel Jones (8)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Darius Slayton (86)

Dexter Lawrence (97)

Dane Belton (24), Jihad Ward (55)

Jihad Ward (55)

Justin Ellis (71)

Jaylon Smith (54), Adoree' Jackson (22), Julian Love (20)

Chris Myarick (85), Chris Myarick (85), Oshane Ximines (53), Cam Brown (47), Gary Brightwell (23)

Julian Love (20)

Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24). Julian Love (20), Fabian Moreau (37)

Jihad Ward (55), Tae Crowder (48), Micah McFadden (41)

Dexter Lawrence (97), Azeez Ojulari (51)

Tyrod Taylor (2), Saquon Barkley (26)

Daniel Jones (8), Ben Bredeson (68)

Daniel Jones (8)

Xavier McKinney (29), Fabian Moreau (37)

Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)

Dexter Lawrence (97)

Daniel Jones (8), Daniel Bellinger (82)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Daniel Jones (8)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Jon Feliciano (76), Saquon Barkley (26)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Chris Myarick (85), David Sills V (13)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Daniel Jones (8)

Xavier McKinney (29)

Saquon Barkley (26), Jon Feliciano (76)

Saquon Barkley (26)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Carter Coughlin (52), Jason Pinnock (27), Cam Brown (47), Jamie Gillan (6)


Xavier McKinney (29)

Saquon Barkley (26)


Daniel Jones (8)


Saquon Barkley (26)

Jihad Ward (55)

Saquon Barkley (26)



Brian Daboll Head Coach

Julian Love (20)


Dexter Lawrence (97)

Julian Love (20), Micah McFadden (41)

Jihad Ward (55), Henry Mondeaux (96)

Jihad Ward (55), D.J. Davidson (98)

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)







Oshane Ximines (53)





Dexter Lawrence (97)

Saquon Barkley (26), Daniel Jones (8)

Daniel Bellinger (82)

Jihad Ward (55)

Cor'Dale Flott (28), Adoree' Jackson (22), Oshane Ximines (53)

Adoree' Jackson (22)

Julian Love (20)

Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)


Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20), Jihad Ward (55)

Andrew Thomas (78)



Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)

Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)


Micah McFadden (41), Dane Belton (24), Julian Love (20)

Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Harry Carson and Leonard Marshall during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Samantha Morris gets emotional with her dad Joe Morris during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Kyle Rote Jr during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Rodney Hampton during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Rodney Hampton gets a hand shake from his son during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Ronnie Barnes receives his ring of honor jacket from Brad Daluiso during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Otis Anderson walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Rodney Hampton walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Leonard Marshall walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Julian Love (20)

Matt Breida (31)

Ronnie Bones walks the blue carpet to receive his Ring of Honor jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Kyle Rote Jr. walks up to receive his fathers Ring of Honor Jacket during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Julian Love (20)

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

New York Giants safety Julian Love (20) intercepts a pass during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Evan Neal (73)

Saquon Barkley (26)


Daniel Bellinger (82)




Dane Belton (24), Xavier McKinney, Tae Crowder (48)


Nick Williams (93)


Daniel Jones (8)

ryder anderson

Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)

Ben Bredeson (68)

Justin Ellis (71), Dexter Lawrence (97)

Leonard Williams (99)

Xavier McKinney (29)

Dexter Lawrence (97)

during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)


Bob Papa speaks during the ring of honor ceremony during a Monday Night football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday September 26, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

David Sills V (13), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday October 16, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus/NY Giants)

Wan'Dale Robinson (17)


Leonard Williams (99), Xavier McKinney (29), Jaylon Smith (54)

Wan'Dale Robinson (17)


Saquon Barkley (26), Wan'Dale Robinson (17)



The New York Giants take on the Baltimore Ravens at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday October 16, 2022. (Ben Solomon/New York Giants)
