The New York Giants haven’t had standout success in the draft since general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll took the reins. If they had, the team would likely have seen more victories over the past two seasons.
While the 2024 draft class looks promising so far, many had similar expectations for the 2023 class, which ultimately underperformed in its second year.
It generally takes two to three years to evaluate the effectiveness of an NFL draft pick, which brings us to Schoen and Daboll’s 2022 draft class. Although results have been mostly underwhelming, one player, inside linebacker Micah McFadden—selected in the fifth round out of Indiana—has shown enough potential to possibly earn an early contract extension, according to The Athletic’s Giants beat reporter Dan Duggan.
In his February 18 offseason plan, Duggan proposed a “reasonable” three-year, $12 million extension for McFadden. Duggan explained that McFadden, having earned only $2.9 million over his first three seasons, might be open to such an extension, which would provide more financial security with guaranteed money.
Additionally, McFadden is set to receive a proven performance escalator (PPE) raise to $3.3 million this year, which Duggan suggests could be incorporated into the proposed extension. A PPE is awarded to younger players who meet a specific snap percentage threshold in their first three seasons, and McFadden qualified for a level-one PPE.
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Duggan believes the deal would be fair for both sides, allowing McFadden to remain with the Giants through the 2027 season. While McFadden isn’t a star, Duggan argues that the Giants need to start securing their homegrown talent. By extending McFadden early, they can avoid paying higher free-agent prices or searching for a replacement.
McFadden’s extension wouldn’t be expensive, and it could even help reduce his cap hit if Schoen structures the deal that way. With the projected salary cap for 2025 expected to rise significantly, the Giants will have extra money to work with. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the cap is projected to range from $277.5 million to $281.5 million per team, a minimum increase of $22.1 million compared to previous expectations. This cap bump will leave the Giants with an estimated $45 million to $50 million in cap space, giving Schoen ample room to extend McFadden and make other moves.
