After the 2021 season, the New York Giants announced the departures of general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge. This team will see a new general manager for the first time in four years and one outside the organization for the first time since Ernie Accorsi. However, the organization has found itself looking for a new headman every two years since the firing of Tom Coughlin. Looking at general manager candidates is not as cut and clear as looking at head-coaching candidates. While profiling some, many need to rely on what reliable sources say about the candidate and the organizations they worked for. Here are three qualified candidates for the New York Giants general manager vacancy.
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Three Candidates Fit for New York Giants General Manager Vacancy
Joe Schoen
Assistant General Manager, Buffalo Bills (2017-present)
Carolina Panthers/Miami Dolphins
Joe Schoen is the most qualified candidate on this list for the New York Giants general manager vacancy. Schoen played quarterback at DePauw University before switching to wide receiver in his final three years. He made it into the NFL as a ticketing intern for the Carolina Panthers in 2001, where he met Brandon Beane. Beane is currently the Buffalo Bills general manager and the man who hired Schoen to assist him in 2017.
After spending a few seasons as an area scout, coaching legend Bill Parcells hired Schoen as a national scout for the Miami Dolphins in 2008. After his coaching career, Parcells took many front office jobs. At the time, he served as the executive vice president of football operations for the Dolphins. Parcells said the following about Schoen in an interview with the Athletic in 2019, “I was impressed with Joe because he was a sharp guy and he had a good thought process when it came to evaluating players.” The Dolphins promoted Schoen to director of player personnel and he stayed in that spot until 2017.
Buffalo Bills
Brandon Beane hired Schoen as the assistant general manager of the Buffalo Bills in 2017. Besides just evaluating talent, Schoen is very hands-on. The Bills made a three-minute YouTube video, focusing on how he attended a workout at SUNY Buffalo. He checked with the coaches and players, based on their personalities, skillsets, and backgrounds.
In another interview, Schoen talked about how he and his partner (Beane) revamped the entire scouting system in Buffalo. One of the other things he touches on as well is that he prefers to build a team is through the NFL Draft. He said this about the NFL Draft routine in Buffalo:
“With the Bills, I think Brandon and I are aligned in that we both believe in the draft and building through the draft. It’s kind of our Super Bowl, our chance to affect the roster moving forward, not just in 2019 but hopefully on into the future. We understand the task at hand and how important it is. There’s not a big margin for error”
Talent evaluating is just a piece of the pie for a general manager or one applying for a similar job. Unlike some of the candidates on the Giants list, Schoen is experienced in building a scouting staff and being hands-on with college players before the NFL Draft. His team’s success proves the organization’s process is working as the Bills missed the playoffs once since Schoen and Beane’s arrival.
Adam Peters
Assistant General Manager, San Francisco 49ers (2021-present)
New England Patriots/Denver Broncos
Adam Peters began his NFL career as a scouting assistant with the New England Patriots in 2003. He stayed in the same spot until 2009 when the Denver Broncos hired him as a regional scout. The Broncos promoted Peters to the national scout position in 2011 as he stayed in that position for three seasons. In 2014, the Broncos promoted him to be assistant director of college scouting. He moved into the main director role in 2016.
As he moved up the ranks, he had more influence in the front office and on then-general manager John Elway. He is given partial credit for drafting CJ Anderson, Von Miller, Malik Jackson, Chris Harris, and others. A few of those players were key pieces in helping the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50.
San Francisco 49ers
After a stint with the Broncos, John Lynch hired Peters in 2017 as the San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel. His voice became louder as he banged the table for George Kittle in the process of the 2017 NFL Draft.
After a few years as the vice president of player personnel, the 49ers promoted him to assistant general manager. Peters had an influence on the drafting of North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance in this past draft. Like many give him credit for some of the Super Bowl 50 squad, he also had a hand in drafting stars like Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and Fred Warner.
Though the 49ers experienced rocky roads in the last few years, there is no doubt the talent is there. Peters may not have the qualifications like Joe Schoen. His experience in banging on the table for hot prospects is something the Giants need. If Schoen gets the job for the Chicago Bears or the Minnesota Vikings, Peters should be the next guy in line.
Joe Hortiz
Director Of Player Personnel, Baltimore Ravens (2021-present)
Joe Hortiz first began his football career as a graduate assistant for the Auburn Tigers in 1995. He coached the scout team linebackers and defensive backs while working with quarterbacks and wide receivers as well.
His long tenure with the Baltimore Ravens started in 1998 when he was hired as a scouting assistant. He worked as a Northeast scout between 2001-2002 and a Southeast scout between 2003-2005. After his regional scout tenure, the Ravens promoted him to the national scout position.
Hortiz stayed at that position until 2009 when he was promoted to director of college scouting. As stated via Giants.com, “he was responsible for all aspects of the college process, coordinating the schedules and cross-checking duties of the area and national scouts. Hortiz also managed the team’s draft preparation and the evaluation and ranking process of hundreds of NFL draft-eligible prospects.” Hortiz is given partial credit for the trade-up to get then-Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Director Of Player Personnel Promotion
He stayed in this role until 2018 when he was promoted to the director of player personnel position. Ozzie Newsome took a backseat in the front office as the Ravens promoted Eric DeCosta to general manager. As of right now, Hortiz and George Kokonis are the two chief personnel evaluators for DeCosta.
The recent draft classes of the Baltimore Ravens have not been as good since Newsome took a backseat after 2018. Despite the fluctuating talent in the draft classes, the Ravens still manage to provide good depth for the team, which the coaches can make the most out of. Their depth was not an issue until this past season when the Ravens missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record and their defense ranked in the 20s.
Joe Hortiz is a well-respected executive around the NFL. The last few draft classes should not change anyone’s mind on who the Ravens are as talent evaluators. Rumors are circling that the New York Giants are flying in a few candidates, including Hortiz, for in-person interviews. With that being said, if Peters and Schoen are off the table, Hortiz deserves the job.
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