Schoen never said Stafford’s name on Tuesday, but he talked a lot about the present rather than the future
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — New York Giants GM Joe Schoen said Tuesday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Giants will look “under every rock” to solve their quarterback problem this offseason.
That includes perhaps trying to dislodge a massive boulder named Matthew Stafford, the 37-year-old Los Angeles Rams quarterback who reportedly has permission from the Rams to discuss contract parameters with potential suitors.
Schoen wasn’t biting when asked if he had, or would, talk to Stafford’s representative.
“You have to ask the Rams,” Schoen said. “He’s under contract with the Rams, so that would be a question for the Rams.”
Nice try, Joe!
It is an obvious question for the Giants GM.
“We’re going to look at vets. We’re going to look at the draft. We’re going to look at trade candidates,” Schoen said. “We’re going to look under every rock to find the best prospect for us going into the 25th season.”
The best quarterback apparently on the market, with apologies to Aaron Rodgers, is Stafford.
“I think it’s the most important position in football,” Schoen said. “We have one on our roster right now. I think it’s important wherever we address it that the play has to be better than what it’s been.
“Because of injuries, we played four quarterbacks this year. We played three last year. It would be nice to have one guy out there that can give you the best chance to win games and also stay healthy. Again, that is an important position. We need better play out of that position than what we’ve had. That’ll help us.”
Does he want a rookie or a veteran as QB1 in 2025?
“Whoever gives us the best chance to win right now,” Schoen said. “Where we are again, as of today, I don’t know if one of those guys are going to be there or if there’s one in this draft. We’re still going through that process.”
In the “right now,” Stafford is clearly that answer.
Schoen would not say Stafford’s name. In both a public podium session and a private session with New York media, Stafford’s name was never directly spoken. Asked, though, if “a late-30s veteran quarterback” made sense for the Giants Schoen again referred to 2025.
“Whoever gives us the best chance to win. That’s what it is,” he said. “Whether it’s a 28-year-old or 26-year-old, whatever it is … Whoever gives you the best chance to win, that’s what we’re going to do.
“We need to look through free agency, trades, draft, whatever it is, and we need better play out of the position.”
The Giants are here because of the commitment they made to Daniel Jones after the 2022 season.
“There’s always pressure in this industry. I understand it. I get it. Pressure to win. Again, after that first year when we won, we went with Daniel and the way we structured the contract. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” Schoen said.
“We all knew that, the way we structured it. Hey, this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to go with this for two years. If it doesn’t work out, we’re going to need to pivot and find somebody else. Unfortunately, it didn’t, and that’s why we’re here. That was all discussed before that happened. I wish it would have ended a little bit differently, but this is where we are. Now we’ve got to address the position.”
Schoen and Brian Daboll are entering Year 4. The Giants went 3-14 in 2024 and are 9-25 the past two years. They don’t have the leeway that decision-makers in their first or second seasons might have.
Schoen seemed well aware of it.
“We’ve got to be better. We’re a three-win team,” Schoen said. “Where we are financially, from a salary capital standpoint, we’re in good shape. We have premium draft capital. So, not suffocating. We have the resources to improve the roster.
Again, we made some decisions after that first year when we won, and they didn’t work out. Again, we’re where we are.”
Asked specifically about a “37-year-old quarterback,” Schoen continued to talk about 2025.
“Best player available that can help us win games in ‘25,” Schoen said. “We need a quarterback. Everybody knows that. Everybody sees our depth chart, and we need a quarterback.”
Schoen seemed firm in his belief that getting the right quarterback will go a long way toward making the Giants competitive in 2025.
“I think the quarterback elevates the rest of the roster. Yeah, absolutely,” Schoen said. “If you score more points, the defensive line can rush more. They’re not playing down seven, down 10, whatever it is where teams are in mixed downs or they can run the ball better, get leads. They can pin their ears back and get after it. It makes it a little bit easier on the defense.”
Schoen knows, though, that “there’s only so many” of those kinds of quarterbacks.
He knows he has to get it right this offseason. Even if the quarterback he gets is 37 years old.
