An interesting item related to the New York Giants popped up in The Athletic’s annual survey of NFL agents this week. As Ben Standig wrote, while agents primarily exist behind the scenes, they also have a pulse on league matters present and future.
While the Giants were shaping their present and future this past spring, Hard Knocks was watching, documenting their every thought, decision and evaluation in the first edition of the franchise’s offseason version.
Among several questions, Standig asked 31 agents for their anonymous thoughts on both the Giants’ participation and the content.
“It’s probably a choice the Giants regret,” one agent responded. “They revealed too much. This portrayal will be something other teams will consider in the future.”
One revelation was the Giants’ opinion of thier starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, incidentally elected one of five captains by his teammates, the team announced Monday.
Other agents enjoyed the architecture and engineering documented throughout the series, especially the discussions between general manager Joe Schoen and free agent Saquon Barkley.
“I loved it,” another agent told Standig. “I know how it works, but seeing the business behind the scenes for the ordinary fan is very cool. The Schoen-Saquon talks. Pre-draft interviews with quarterbacks at the board. I was surprised the Giants were that open.”
But overall, the prevailing perspective was surprise that the Giants provided so much access to private conversations.
“It was difficult to figure out the timing of how the events transpired,” said another agent, “but it showed the inexact science that is free agency and talent evaluation. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder — and the series did not help the team!”
“I think Schoen is a good GM,” replied another, “but this made him and the organization look bad.”
New York, which got its full starting offensive line on the practice field this week, hosts Minnesota in the season-opener Sunday at MetLife Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX).