ORLANDO, Fla. – John Mara remains a strong supporter of the Giants' player procurement process and those atop the team's decision-making hierarchy. But he expects better results after a season that he said, "nobody was happy with."
The Giants were 6-11 in 2023, a step back after winning nine games, plus one in the playoffs, the previous season. But in a conversation with reporters today at the NFL owners meeting, Mara expressed confidence that general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll can lead the Giants to greater accomplishments.
"Certainly, last season was a huge disappointment to me, especially coming off of a playoff year," said Mara, the Giants' president and chief executive officer. "I still believe we're headed in the right direction, and I have all the confidence in the world in Joe and his staff and in Brian Daboll and his staff.
"I think the communication is terrific. I think the process they go through is great, and I do think we're headed in the right direction. Obviously, until we start winning games not everyone is going to buy into that. But I happen to believe it. … We were 6-11, so nobody was happy with that. I still very firmly believe that Brian is the right guy for us going forward."
Mara also remains a vocal advocate of quarterback Daniel Jones, who was limited to six games in 2023 because of injuries, notably a torn ACL that ended his season on Nov. 5. And when he did play, Jones was subjected to frequent pressure because of a spate of injuries on the offensive line.
"I know a lot of you killed Daniel for his performance this year, but we had the perfect storm," Mara said. "Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. Guys got hurt. The wrong guys got hurt. Let's face it, for a while we couldn't block anybody, and Daniel was getting hit all the time.
"I still have every confidence in the world in Daniel. Let's put a better team around him. Hopefully he'll get healthy, and I think the real Daniel Jones is the one that played in 2022, particularly down the stretch in the playoffs."
Schoen and Daboll have been busy adding players in the last two weeks. They sent two draft choices to the Carolina Panthers for premier pass rusher Brian Burns, running back Devin Singletary, wide receiver/return specialist Isaiah McKenzie, and five offensive linemen, notably guard Jon Runyan, Jr. and the versatile Jermaine Eluemunor.
The last part of that sentence is particularly significant, because Mara admits the Giants' quest to improve the offensive line – which allowed an NFL-high and franchise-record 85 sacks last year – is past its deadline.
"It's ridiculous, and it's a continuing source of frustration for me," he said. "It's time to get it fixed. We've invested in a couple of number one draft picks on offensive tackles (Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal). We have a number two draft pick (John Michael Schmitz) playing at center, and now we have spent some money in free agency. We have a new offensive line coach (Carmen Bricillo). I expect us to be a hell of a lot better this year.
"That was certainly a priority going into this offseason was to get the offensive line fixed. You can't win in this league unless you have a good productive, consistent offensive line. It's what we had years ago when we were winning, and we have to get back to that. I think we have the right pieces in there now. We'll see. Life in football starts on the offensive line. If you can't block them, you're not going to win."
Assuming he is healthy, Jones remains entrenched as the starting quarterback. Both Mara and Schoen expressed confidence that Jones will be healthy enough to participate in training camp. In case he isn't ready, the Giants this month signed Drew Lock, a quarterback with 23 NFL starts.
The Giants own six selections in next month's NFL Draft, including No. 6 in the first round. Neither Mara nor Schoen ruled out taking a quarterback with that pick. Mara would support that decision and he emphasized that does not indicate the team is unhappy with Jones.
"If they fall in love with a quarterback and believe that it's worth pick No. 6, or moving up, I certainly would support that," Mara said. "I let the general manager and the head coach build the roster. We have operated the same way for many years here. If they have a conviction about a player, I'm not going to get involved.
"I'll question them about it, make them defend their position, but the only time I'm going to get involved and exert any influence is if I think it's a conduct issue off the field. That's happened not with this group, but in the past on very rare occasions. In terms of them evaluating the players, if they have a conviction about a player and want to draft one, want to get one in free agency, then all I want to make sure is that they're both on the same page."
Jones is entering the second season of a four-year extension he signed prior to the 2022 season. Mara disputed the contention that choosing a quarterback high in the draft would indicate the Giants are giving up on Jones.
"I don't think so," he said. "Why not let them both compete and let the better man win?
"Even if we draft somebody, I expect Daniel to be the starting quarterback when the season starts. He'll still get all the reps in the world, assuming he is healthy, which we think he'll be ready for training camp. So, I dont see that being a factor."
View photos of the newest members of the Giants touring the Quest Diagnostics Training Center for the first time.
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
G Jon Runyan
RB Devin Singletary
WR Isaiah McKenzie
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
QB Drew Lock
DB Jalen Mills
TE Jack Stoll
OLB Brian Burns (0)
G Jon Runyan
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
RB Devin Singletary
WR Isaiah McKenzie
DB Jalen Mills
QB Drew Lock
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
TE Jack Stoll
OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Devin Singletary
DB Jalen Mills
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Devin Singletary
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Drew Lock
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Drew Lock
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
Mara discussed other subjects in his 30-minute conversation with the team's beat writers.
*On losing running back Saquon Barkley in free agency to the Giants' division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles.
"It was tough, it really was," Mara said. "Everything he did for us on the field, off the field, he was a class act in every respect. I hated to see him leave. I certainly hated to see him go in the division.
"On a more personal note, I have 14 grandchildren who have a (number) 26 jersey, and it was tough breaking the news to them, too. Saquon was everything you want a player to be. I hated to see him leave. "
Particularly to the Eagles.
"Let's be honest, I would have preferred if it was out of the division, but I have enormous respect for him. The people that are criticizing him for doing that to me are way off base. These guys, their careers are so short. I understand you've got to take the best deal that's out there. That's what he did. He grew up in the Pennsylvania area, so I don't begrudge him that. I'm not looking forward to having to play against him twice in a year, but I'll always have enormous respect and appreciation for everything he did for us."
*On the Giants' overhauled coaching staff, which will include nine newcomers this year.
"He wanted to make some - he being Brian Daboll - wanted to make changes with certain members of the staff at the end of the season," Mara said. "I always believe that you let the head coach pick his own staff. Obviously, you don't want to have as much turnover as we had, but he wanted to make some changes. So, we let him go ahead and do that."
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 20)
TE Jordan Murray - Practice Squad (November 20)
T Tyre Phillips - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Garret Greenfield - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran (November 12)
P Matt Haack - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 12)
K Graham Gano - Activated from Injured Reserve (November 9)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
CB Art Green - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Practice Squad (November 6)
T Joshua Miles - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Practice Squad Veteran (November 6)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (November 6)
CB Nick McCloud - Waived, No Recall (November 5)
P Matt Haack - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (November 5)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 2)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (November 2)
K Greg Joseph - Reserve/Injured (November 2)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 2)
T Marcellus Johnson - Practice Squad (October 30)
T Garret Greenfield - Practice Squad (October 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 30)
S Gervarrius Owens - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Practice Squad Veteran (October 24)
DL Armon Watts - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 22)
OLB Boogie Basham - Waived, No Recall (October 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 19)
OT Chris Hubbard - Free Agent Signing (from SF Practice Squad) (October 18)
OT Andrew Thomas - Reserve/Injured (October 16)
DT Armon Watts - Practice Squad Veteran (October 15)
CB Duke Shelley - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 15)
P Matt Haack - Free Agent Signing (October 12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Reserve/Injured (October 12)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
OLB Benton Whitley - Practice Squad (October 8)
G Cade Mays - Signed to CAR Active Roster from NYG Practice Squad (October 8)
ILB Matthew Adams - Activated from Injured Reserve (October 5)
OLB Benton Whitley - Waived, No Recall (October 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
LB Matthew Adams - Returned to Practice (October 2)
WR Kearis Jackson - Practice Squad (October 1)
CB Greg Stroman - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
TE Joel Wilson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
DB Alex Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE Lawrence Cager - Terminated (Injury Settlement) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
CB Duke Shelley - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 25)
LB Ty Summers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 25)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 24)
TE Joel Wilson - Practice Squad (September 24)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad; Injured (September 24)
CB Art Green - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Patrick Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (September 17)
K Greg Joseph - Free Agent Signing from DET Practice Squad (September 17)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 17)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
