The New York Giants’ 100th Anniversary season did not go as the franchise had hoped. In fact, it couldn’t have gone much worse than it did — a 3-14 finish filled with scores of embarrassing moments and historic lows.
Just about every player, coach, and executive owns a piece of this failure, some more than others. The Giants had high hopes for many players before the season and only a smattering lived up to expectations.
Here are the Giants’ five biggest disappointments from the 2024 season.
The New York Giants’ 100th Anniversary season did not go as the franchise had hoped. In fact, it couldn’t have gone much worse than it did — a 3-14 finish filled with scores of embarrassing moments and historic lows.Just about every player, coach, and executive owns a piece of this failure, some more than others. The Giants had high hopes for many players before the season and only a smattering lived up to expectations.Here are the Giants’ five biggest disappointments from the 2024 season.
The New York Giants’ 100th Anniversary season did not go as the franchise had hoped. In fact, it couldn’t have gone much worse than it did — a 3-14 finish filled with scores of embarrassing moments and historic lows.
Just about every player, coach, and executive owns a piece of this failure, some more than others. The Giants had high hopes for many players before the season and only a smattering lived up to expectations.
Here are the Giants’ five biggest disappointments from the 2024 season.
QB Daniel Jones
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The Giants painted themselves into a corner with Daniel Jones’ four-year, $160 million deal and needed to get through this season with him. Jones was so inefficient that the Giants decided to bench him after a 2-8 start and eventually ended up releasing him.
Jones’ consistent decline is a mystery to many. The once-promising first-round pick devolved into an inaccurate, indecisive passer while becoming less dynamic with his legs. Jones ended his Giants career with a whimper as the club decided they’d be better off playing the backups the rest of the way.
CB Deonte Banks
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The Giants were hoping to build their secondary around Deonte Banks but those hopes appear to be fading after a subpar season from the 2023 first-round pick. Banks played in 14 games this year and led the team in passes defensed (12) but he allowed 49 catches for 689 yards and six touchdowns.
That’s just half the story, though. Questions surfaced regarding his effort and desire as he “took some plays off” and didn’t “sell out” on others. Teammates and coaches spoke out about Banks’ lack of effort at times and you can bet it hasn’t escaped general manager Joe Schoen’s mind.
OL Evan Neal
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Is Evan Neal, the seventh overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft a bust? After three seasons of undistinguished play, we may have an answer to that.
In fairness, Neal has been injured and began training camp on the PUP list in case his surgically repaired ankle acted up. While he was being slowly re-acclimated this summer, the Giants decided to go with Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle. Eluemunor was originally signed to play guard.
Neal only got on the field this year after left tackle Andrew Thomas was lost for the season to a Lisfranc injury in Week 7. Eluemunor eventually played left tackle with Neal on the right side.
Neal was largely inconsistent and continued to have issues with speed rushers. The Giants could try to salvage Neal by shifting him inside to guard, but they aren’t in love with that idea, either.
LB Kayvon Thibodeaux
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A fractured wrist limited Kayvon Thibodeaux to 12 games this year. That, combined with the new defensive scheme brought in by new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, neutralized KT this season and he had just 5.5 sacks.
The former fifth overall selection out of Oregon took a step back but as stated, that may not be all his fault. Still, the Giants need him to be a Pro Bowl-level player and he’s just not.
WR Jalin Hyatt
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Few, if any, NFL players can run as fast as Jalin Hyatt. The Giants were hoping they could use the former third-round pick out of Tennessee to take the top off of defenses with his vertical speed.
Nothing doing. Hyatt was barely used and when he was on the field the targets went elsewhere. Hyatt is not a great route runner and the Giants’ quarterbacks aren’t great deep throwers. That pretty much negated his presence in the Giants’ pop-gun offense.
No one is sure what happens next with Hyatt. The Giants have Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson ahead of him on the depth chart and there will likely be others coming in. He could be traded.