GM Joe Schoen did something right last season
It has been accepted wisdom for a while now that New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen hit a home run, maybe a job-saving one, with his 2024 NFL Draft class.
How good is the perception of that class? In a new ranking, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso lists Schoen’s class as the second-best in the league for 2024. Trapasso considers Malik Nabers (Round 1), Dru Phillips (Round 3) and Tyrone Tracy (Round 5) as “hits.” He writes:
GM Joe Schoen and Co. pieced together a fine 2024 class despite what ultimately was a disastrous season. Nabers might be the best receiver in the NFL someday (soon), and Phillips and Tracy were outstanding finds later in the draft. Tracy is a strong contender for second-best rookie back behind Irving in Tampa Bay.
I don’t disagree with Trapasso’s list of “hits.” I do think that second-round pick Tyler Nubin and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson could easily join that list with solid sophomore seasons.
Here is the bad news for the Giants. The Washington Commanders were No. 1 on Trapasso’s list and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles were No. 3. So, as good as the class was, the Giants did not make up any ground.
Want something to feel good about? Trapasso ranked the Dallas Cowboys’ draft class No. 27.
Here is something else just to be aware of. We talk all the time about the fact that no one gets every pick right, and that even the best teams and GMs get it wrong.
Trapasso had the 15-win Detroit Lions ranked 31st and the 14-win Minnesota Vikings 30th, both teams with zero “hits” in the draft. The AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs were No. 22 with wide receiver Xavier Worthy their only “hit.” The 13-win Buffalo Bills had just one “hit,” and were ranked No. 20.
