Hard Knocks followed the New York Giants during the 2024 offseason. The show got in depth with the team and the decision makers during the offseason for the first time in the show’s history.
HBO started airing Hard Knocks in 2001 with the focus being on training camp. The show provides a closer look at NFL teams as they get ready for the regular season. In 2021, HBO also started following teams during the season. The New York Giants have successfully avoided being on the show until this year. The camera crews were allowed a behind the scenes look at what an NFL team goes through during an offseason. The show left viewers with a few major takeaways.
Football Never Stops
One of the more eye opening takeaways is just how busy everyone behind the scenes is. Beyond the team that is put out on the field, there are hundreds of employees that are integral to the organization.
Scouts rarely get the kind of recognition and publicity that they received in this season of Hard Knocks. Many of the scouts got extended screen time throughout and gave viewers a look into what they do. Every team employs a handful of scouts with the majority of them assigned to a region of the country or a specific area of focus. Much of their work comes away from the organization as they travel to watch collegiate players and games and conduct interviews. It was even stated in the show that the NFL Draft is often the only time that all of the scouts are in the same room together. The scouting department is usually underappreciated so it was fitting for them to get to share all of their hard work.
Even when the players have some time away between the end of the season, OTAs, and training camp, leadership is hard at work trying to put together the best team that they can.
The Giants are Stuck at QB
Throughout Hard Knocks, it was clear the Giants were concerned with the quarterback position. The Giants signed Daniel Jones to a four year, $160 million contract last year. After signing that contract, Jones only played in six games due to a neck injury and then a torn ACL. In those games, he only threw two touchdowns with six interceptions and a QBR of only 38.6.
The New York Giants had the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and they weighed all of their options thoroughly. The discussions that general manager Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll, and other decision makers in the organization had frequently circled back to the quarterback position.
Hard Knocks showed the Giants doing their homework on the top quarterbacks in the draft. Daboll put each quarterback through various tests in order to see what they know and how well they can think and process quickly. It was evident that Daboll and Schoen were big fans of these quarterbacks, especially Jayden Daniels. So much so that Schoen attempted to move up in the draft to select one of them.
At the combine, Schoen talked to the New England Patriots about trading out of the number three spot in the draft. At the time, they seemed very open to it. This was not the case come draft day.
Phone Lines on Draft Day are Always Busy
During the final two episodes, viewers got plenty of footage of what the draft looks like in the war room. Invited to the war room are all of the top scouts, the GM, the coaches, and ownership. On draft day, phone calls were being constantly made.
On draft day, Schoen made calls to every team above them in the draft. He called the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Chargers. His intention was to try and move up for a quarterback. As he made the calls, he and the rest of the war room found out that their expectations would come true. They hoped that one of two things would happen, either one of the top three quarterbacks would fall or one of the teams would be willing to trade their pick to the Giants without forcing them to leverage their future. Neither of these happened so they had to adjust their plans.
Even though the Giants made calls to move and to move down, they stayed put. The top three picks were quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye, as the Giants expected. Then it was Marvin Harrison Jr. and even though the Chargers could’ve went wide receiver, they opted for offensive lineman Joe Alt. The Giants ended up choosing wide receiver Malik Nabers out of LSU. The team was clearly excited for this pick. Brian Daboll even mentioned that he had Nabers as his WR1 in the draft over Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison was the clear number one for many, but Daboll had different thoughts and the Giants came away with a much needed playmaker.
Hard Knocks (Probably) Shared More Than the Giants Wanted
Actively trying to trade up to take a quarterback isn’t the greatest look when the Giants are paying $40 million to their current starter. Schoen and Daboll repeatedly discussed their options at the position. Schoen brought up multiple times how it is more difficult to build and work around having a big contract like Jones’ on the books. These conversations usually concluded with stating that Daniel is their guy, but not always with very much conviction.
Enough comments were made throughout the show that even Daniel Jones took issue with it. He was recently interviewed about Hard Knocks with the Giants and made his frustrations known. He shared that he’s motivated, ticked off, and that he really didn’t enjoy watching it. Hopefully, this is good news for Giants fans.
In addition to the conversations, viewers caught a glimpse of the Giants’ coding system for the draft.
Many seem to agree on the speculation for what the colors mean. Each team is going to separate players into categories to help them better make decisions. Showing this isn’t a major leak necessarily, but it is their system and probably something better left unshared.
What’s Next?
With the type of conversations and information shown in this installment of the series, there is a legitimate question to whether or not Hard Knocks: Offseason will return. As a football fan, the show made for excellent viewing. The in depth and behind the scenes workings of an NFL franchise is so neat to see.
Next up is the Chicago Bears. Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears airs Tuesday, August 6 on Max, with new episodes airing weekly until training camp is done.
Once the regular season starts, fans will be treated to Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North. This will be another first for the series. This will be the first time that a whole division will be followed for the show.
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