10 things Hard Knocks could reveal about New York Giants

Beginning last season, reports arose that head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale were clashing. That came to a head early in the offseason when Daboll fired two of Martindale’s closest confidants, the Wilkins brothers, sending the veteran DC into a rage.

Martindale reportedly blew up on Daboll and stormed out of the building before the two sides “parted ways” days later.

Did Daboll fire Drew and Kevin Wilkins in an effort to push Wink out the door? What was really said behind closed doors? And did HBO cameras catch that final blow-up between the two?

After more than a year of negotiation, running back Saquon Barkley hit free agency and was quickly scooped up by the Philadelphia Eagles in mid-March. That decision left a horrible taste in the mouths of Giants fans.

After Barkley turned down an above-market deal a year earlier, the Giants opted not to match Philly’s offer.

What did HBO catch during those negotiations and how did the final conversation between Barkley and the Giants organization play out?

Although losing Barkley was the big story, the Giants also allowed safety and team captain, Xavier McKinney, to walk via free agency.

McKinney had expressed a desire to remain with the Giants while also pushing for what he felt he was worth.

It would be interesting to see how those negotiations went and how each side reacted to McKinney joining the Green Bay Packers.

General manager Joe Schoen made a big splash in free agency by acquiring linebacker Brian Burns in a trade from the Carolina Panthers.

How did those talks begin? How quickly did they come together? And how did the Giants organization react when they got such a steal of a deal?

The Giants spent a significant amount of time, money, and effort scouting the many quarterback prospects ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

How was that scouting coordinated? What were the Giants specifically looking for? How did they view each prospect? Who did they want to target and who did they rule out or grade further down the board?

Although insignificant now, it would be interesting to see in hindsight.

After Martindale left the Giants, rumors about Mike Kafka’s unhappiness with Brian Daboll continued to swirl. While interviewing for head coaching positions, reports arose suggesting Kafka was willing to move laterally in an effort to exit East Rutherford.

Instead of allowing that to happen, the Giants promoted Kafka from offensive coordinator to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

Despite the promotion, Kafka’s exact role remains unclear and it’s possible he’s stripped of play-calling duties.

How did Daboll handle those rumors and reports behind the scenes? What conversation led to Kafka’s promotion and how were those in the front office handling the entire situation?

Ahead of the NFL draft, reports suggested the Giants were aggressively trying to trade up for a quarterback. After the draft had concluded, it was determined that North Carolina’s Drake Maye, who went to the New England Patriots, was the focus of that attempt.

The Giants ultimately passed on J.J. McCarthy and other remaining quarterback prospects at No. 6 in favor of wide receiver Malik Nabers. The draft concluded without Schoen adding another QB.

HBO should have captured a firsthand look at those conversations and potential trade calls.

How much were the Giants really offering? Was Schoen baiting other teams? Was Jones aware of the potential trade prior to Round 1? A lot of information could be revealed on Hard Knocks.

Speaking of the war room during trade conversations, what about the remaining five picks? Will we get a glimpse at the Giants’ draft board? What back-and-forth was held before each pick? And were the Giants always targeting the prospects they eventually took or will HBO reveal some other targets they missed out on?

A large portion of the Hard Knocks docuseries will ultimately focus on quarterback Daniel Jones. He’s a lightning rod and his presence will drive attention among fans, reporters, analysts, and executives.

How did Jones handle all of the offseason rumors? Where is he in terms of rehab as he recovers from a torn ACL and a second neck injury?

Perhaps a better question is: Will we get any insight into the severity of Jones’ neck injuries and what that means for him at this point in his career?

The HBO cameras will also catch a lot of what has yet to happen. The Giants are into organized team activities (OTAs) at this point and through rookie minicamp, but much remains.

How did rookies handle their first time on the field as Giants? What were the introductions to their veteran team members like? And what went into undrafted players earning a spot on the 90-man roster?

And what happens from here? It’s the Giants. It’s the bright lights of New York. There are sure to be plenty of storylines between now and the premiere of Hard Knocks.