5 noteworthy things Giants head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen said at the NFL Scouting Combine
Giants general manager Joe Schoen at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Credit: AP/Michael Conroy
Giants general manager Joe Schoen and coach John Harbaugh spoke at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday. It was the first time they've spoken together in public since Harbaugh was hired in January.
Here are five takeaways from what was said during their conferences:
1. Joe Schoen reiterates he’s still in charge
Schoen’s power appeared in question when the Giants hired Dawn Aponte as senior vice president of football operations. Aponte will report to Harbaugh and is responsible for salary cap management, player contract negotiations and working close with the team’s college and pro personnel departments.
If that sounds like what Schoen did...that’s correct. However, Schoen tried to silence any speculation that his role has been clipped.
“I'm still the general manager of the team and my role has not changed,” he said. “I'm still tasked with leading the entire football operation.”
Schoen declined to say if he’s received a contract extension entering the last year of his deal. He also praised Aponte’s diverse skill set and described how their partnership, which dates back to working together with the Dolphins, works hand-in-hand with Harbaugh to execute the team’s vision.
“We’re going to work in collaboration, like most good teams do,” Schoen said. “Everybody’s going to have their role but there’s constant communication between Dawn, Coach Harbaugh and myself…We’re going to work in collaboration together, we’re aligned in that and it’s been going really good so far.”
2. Harbaugh honest about free agency
Free agency begins Mar. 11 and the Giants have decisions to make on three key players: receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor and cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
Harbaugh likes all three but was straightforward that re-signing them may not be easy.
“I saw guys we want back,” Harbaugh said of the trio. “Now do we have the wherewithal to bring them back and is it a good use of resources? That’s the next part of the conversation.”
Spotrac projected Robinson could averaged $17.6 million per year on his next deal, Flott $9.5 million and Eluemunor $8.7 million. The Giants have just $5.1 million in cap space but will likely add more by cutting some players. Still, Harbaugh reminded that it’s tough to see the team bringing back all three.
3. Praise for Thibodeaux and Lawrence, but now what?
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s future will be a subplot heading into the last year of his contract. The linebacker played a career-low 10 games last season after a season-ending shoulder injury.
Schoen told reporters that Thibodeaux remains in the Giants’ plans for the moment, even after he admitted taking calls on him leading up to the trade deadline.
“Right now, Kayvon’s going to be with us. He played well, he’s going into his fifth year and he’s motivated. And you can’t have enough pass rushers,” Schoen said.
Harbaugh was high on another pass rusher - Dexter Lawrence. Schoen told reporters that Lawrence’s season-ending, dislocated elbow injury from 2024 may have been a factor in him having just a half-sack this season
Lawrence has three years left on his contract but no guaranteed money after this season, which means he and the Giants could enter extension talks soon. Harbaugh called Lawrence “really important” and a middle-stone player, as opposed to a cornerstone, to emphasize his importance to the team.
4. Fixing the run remains paramount
The Giants’ run defense went from awful to putrid last season. They were last in yards allowed per carry (5.3) and second-to-last in rushing yards allowed per game (145.3).
Harbaugh said it’s "a must” that that gets addressed. It’s the main task for new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and Harbaugh was adamant the Giants have to be great at not just running the football, but stopping teams from doing so.
“Can’t let people run all over you, there’s no doubt about it,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been important since football started. So that’s going to be where it starts.”
5. Few comments on Steve Tisch
The Giants haven’t released a follow-up statement since co-owner Steve Tisch was found to have exchanged emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Tisch’s name appeared over 400 times in the files released by the Department of Justice.
Tisch’s Jan. 30 statement expressed regret for associating with Epstein but denied going to his private island. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said before the Super Bowl that the league will “look at all of the facts” before passing any discipline.
While Harbaugh praised his interactions with Tisch, co-owner John Mara and minority owner Julia Koch regarding the business of football, he referred back to Tisch’s statement when asked if he should remain part of ownership. So did Schoen when asked about it
“I’m just going to leave it at that. I’m not going to comment anymore on that,” Schoen said.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
More Giants
