How Giants' free-agency moves signal a shift in roster-building philosophy

Looking at players purely for value can also lead to some head-scratching moves. For instance, while there's no way Barkley would've rushed for 2,005 yards with the Giants in 2024, his talent is undeniable, and his leadership held the locker room together. However, Giants general manager Joe Schoen famously broke down Barkley's role on the team in relation to then starting quarterback Daniel Jones' massive contract.

"You're paying [Jones] $40 million," Schoen said on "Hard Knocks: Offseason." "It's not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back."

Jones is no longer on the team, and the team is carrying $22.21 million in dead salary cap money in 2025 for cutting him. Still, the Giants didn't make a similar mistake by letting wide receiver Darius Slayton walk out of the building. Slayton agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth $36 million to stay with the team that drafted him in 2019.

This was prudent because the Giants had no good answer for filling Slayton's WR No. 2 spot. Their roster isn't in a position that allows the front office to spend at the top of the WR market, and again, retaining talent is important. It's a tough pill to swallow for Giants fans that the front office was willing to pay Slayton more than they wanted to give to Barkley, but at least they didn't create another hole they couldn't afford to fill.

Positional value still has its role in roster building. For example, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles understand football games are decided in the trenches, so they constantly prioritize the acquisition of offensive and defensive linemen. Yet, not letting talented players walk out of the building regardless of position is also important. No team can keep every piece together, but a consistent, talented core is what separates the contenders from everyone else.