The New York Giants have welcomed in a new general manager (Joe Schoen) and new head coach (Brian Daboll) and because of that, their offseason workout program will begin a bit earlier this year.
Giants players will return to East Rutherford on April 4 and the team will then conduct a mandatory minicamp one week prior to the 2022 NFL draft, per league rules.
The minicamp will provide Schoen and Daboll their first on-field look at the players they are inheriting, including quarterback Daniel Jones. It will also help them reach a conclusion on Jones’ fifth-year option.
“We haven’t been around him other than a couple weeks,” Schoen told Pro Football Talk. “The advantage that we have is that with Daboll being a new head coach, the players will be in the building on April 4. We’ll get to have a chance to have a minicamp the week before the draft. Again, we’re going to take our time with the process. We’re going to be around Daniel. We’re going to get the chance to see him throw and work with the guys that we have. We don’t have to have a decision until May 2. We’re going to be patient with that decision.”
What’s interesting about the mandatory minicamp is the projection that Jones will participate. He ended last season on injured reserve due to a neck injury and there was no clear timetable on his return. If Jones is able to participate during the minicamp, that’s a very positive step in his recovery.
What Schoen and the Giants expect to see in Jones is the same talent that made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
“He does have ability,” Schoen said. “He’s athletic, he’s got good arm strength, he’s played some good football in this league. His makeup is going to allow him to reach whatever his ceiling is. That makes me excited to work with him.”
Jones has made a positive impression early on with Schoen and Daboll, just as he had with Dave Gettleman, Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge before them.
