Talkin’ Giants (Giants Podcast) · Jomboy Media

Reviewing Every Move Joe Schoen has made as Giants GM | 936

December 31, 2025·1 hr 7 min·6 clips

The Giants had two top-10 picks and nine picks inside the top 150 in 2022, a draft that should have turned the franchise around.

The episode opens with the host framing this as a solo reflection piece on Joe Schoen's tenure as Giants GM, noting it is likely his final year unless the 'Liam Cohen, Trent Baalke situation' Hail Mary plays out. He credits Ryan Henderson of Ryan's Big Blue Podcast with inspiring the format — going pick-by-pick through every draft class. The 2022 class is the centerpiece critique: two top-10 picks (Kayvon Thibodeau and Evan Neal), five inside the top 100, nine inside the top 150 — a once-in-a-decade capital haul. The host argues it should have rebuilt the franchise but instead set it back. He contextualizes Evan Neal's failure as more understandable since Dallas's board also had him top-two. The Josh Ezeudu pick (67th overall) is identified as the first clear sign of Schoen's stated flaw — filling positions rather than finding football players. Kayvon Thibodeau is given some credit for improving in 2024-2025. Cordell Flott emerged as a late value pick, currently ranking top-five in coverage EPA, but the host acknowledges the next regime may not value his slight frame. Daniel Bellinger and Micah McFadden are called successful day-three picks; Dane Belton is not. The 2023 class is described as the worst: Deontay Banks is critiqued on college film (two interceptions and 11 pass defenses in 30 games, not a ball hawk), and Jalen Hyatt is noted for a 10.5% interception rate on career targets. Trade-ups for both cost three additional picks — a Moneyball-style accounting of compounded failure. John Michael Schmitz (JMS) is the 2023 bright spot but concerns remain about his ceiling at age 26-27. The 2024 class is partially redeemed by Malik Neighbors at pick six and by the process of passing on JJ McCarthy and Michael Penix under heavy public pressure. The host notes the Giants reportedly targeted Drake May in a trade-up that the Patriots blocked. Tyler Nubin gets a conditional defense — the host believes Shane Bowen's defensive scheme prevented safeties from making plays on the ball, and he hopes a new coordinator reveals more. Theo Johnson is analyzed using Next Gen's YAC-over-expectation metric (minus-0.5, fourth-worst among tight ends) and criticized for drops on critical downs. Tyron Tracy and Darius Moisow are brief hits. The 2025 class features Abdul Carter finishing strong and Jackson Dart described as a foundational piece, though the host acknowledges rose-colored glasses risk for rookie evaluations.

As heard by us

A heated, detail-heavy front-office review for Giants fans.

Talking Giants spends the hour revisiting every move Joe Shane has made as Giants GM, and it does so with a sharp, grind-it-out tone that will feel familiar to Giants fans.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the full Joe Shane audit, with the good, the bad, and the frustrated.

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