The New York Giants took the first step toward a successful offseason in early November by firing head coach Brian Daboll. It is a decision that should have been made last offseason; however, New York now has a chance for a fresh start with a new head coach. That being said, this shouldn’t be the organization’s only big move of the offseason.
Let’s dive into the four Giants offseason moves we believe the franchise needs to make in 2026.
Fire General Manager Joe Schoen
New York simply cannot make the mistake of having a head coach and general manager who are not in lockstep or hired with the same timetable in mind. That is the issue with keeping Giants general manager Joe Schoen around; if the team struggles in 2026 and he is fired, then his replacement would inherit a head coach he did not pick. Besides, it is not as if Schoen’s resume as the Giants general manager warrants him sticking around beyond this season.
Some great organizations have hired both their head coach and GM at the same time, while other well-respected franchises let the GM pick a head coach because he was successful in building the team. Schoen does not have that going for him, and it is one of the many reasons he needs to be fired.
Hire Jesse Minter as New York Giants Head Coach
We know there is a lot of buzz connecting Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman to New York. He is certainly different from past failed hires from the college ranks because he is a defensive mind known more for his leadership. As much as we believe Freeman might have a bright future as an NFL head coach, there is too much risk in immediately handing him a head coaching job at the highest level, considering he has never spent any time coaching in the NFL.
Related: NFL Coaching Candidates 2026
Instead, we believe Jesse Minter should be the next Giants head coach. He took over as the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator in 2024, following Jim Harbaugh, and immediately turned a bottom-10 defense into a top-10 unit with minimal personnel changes on the field. The defense is even better this season. He would inherit a Giants defense that features Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter; these are perfect building blocks for his scheme. Plus, his time in Los Angeles and with the Baltimore Ravens (2017–2020) means that he would have connections from well-run organizations to build his staff and potentially find a quality GM.
Trade Down with QB-Needy Team in 2026 NFL Draft
Whether the Giants have the first or second overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, we believe they should trade down with whichever team is desperate for what it deems a franchise-caliber quarterback prospect. Perhaps Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore could be better than Jaxson Dart, but New York’s rookie signal-caller has shown enough—even without Malik Nabers and while working with an interim play-caller—to warrant a second year.
Furthermore, the draft capital the Giants could receive by trading down just a few spots would enrich the roster, provided the right general manager is at the helm. Just as important, they could still land one of the two or three highest-rated prospects on their board, all while picking up extra draft capital in the early rounds.
Draft Carnell Tate
After trading down, New York could go in any number of directions with its top pick. All-American safety Caleb Downs is a compelling option, as is running back Jeremiyah Love. With that said, we believe the best way to truly evaluate Jaxson Dart and set up the next Giants franchise quarterback for success is by having two outstanding wide receivers.
Carnell Tate does not have elite speed, but the Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver excels at getting open, and he brings body control and ball skills that feel reminiscent of top veteran pass-catchers in the NFL. He is also used to playing the 1B role as the teammate of Jeremiah Smith. Putting Tate and Malik Nabers on the field would give Dart two No. 1 wideouts who can easily win one-on-one matchups. Plus, they will both be signed to rookie contracts for the foreseeable future, which brings added flexibility for building the defense.
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft
