The Reason Giants GM Joe Schoen Isn't Fired After Landing Top-5 Pick in NFL Draft 2026

Despite losing double-digit games for the third consecutive season, Joe Schoen's recent draft history has been enough to convince New York Giants ownership that he has them heading in the right direction.

Per ESPN's Jordan Raanan first reported that Schoen would return as general manager next season because ownership feels he has "built a good young core" that can turn things around.

There is an argument that New York's young talent is good enough to engineer a swift turnaround.

A core of Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter, Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo sounds promising. We didn't get to see that group on the field for an extended period of time this season.

Dart began the year as the backup to Russell Wilson before taking over in Week 4, but he was in and out of the lineup due to injuries. Skattebo and Nabers played a combined total of 12 games due to injuries.

Carter only had four sacks in 17 games, but his 23 quarterback hits suggest there is a lot more upside to work with.

Brian Burns, who doesn't quite fit into the young core because he will turn 28 on April 23, might be the most successful acquisition of Schoen's tenure. He finished this season with a career-high 16.5 sacks.

The downside is that hope is all Schoen has been able to sell the Giants on because the results have not been good. They did make the playoffs in his first season as general manager, but that was with a roster largely built by the previous regime under Dave Gettleman.

Schoen also became the center of Hard Knocks in the summer of 2024 due to his negotiations with Saquon Barkley that ended with the star running back signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants will once again be entrusting Schoen with the responsibility of making a very high draft pick. They will select No. 5 in the 2026 draft after finishing this season with a 4-13 record.

This marks the third consecutive year that the Giants have a top six draft pick. Their 13-38 record since the start of the 2023 season is the second-worst in the NFL, ahead of only the Tennessee Titans (12-39).