The Associated Press released its list of 2024 All-Pro players from this season and it's filled with just about everyone you'd think it would be. If you're a New York Giants fan, you're not going to be happy with a couple of guys who made the cut.
Two former Giants were voted first-team All-Pro at their positions this season: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Green Bay Packers cornerback Xavier McKinney. Both guys were on New York's roster in 2023 and were let go as free agents in the offseason.
If you're general manager Joe Schoen, who by the way was just retained by ownership for another season, your judgement on those players' worth is not reflecting very brightly at the moment.
Giants fans are feeling all the feels with Saquon Barkley, Xavier McKinney's first-team All-Pro selections
Schoen infamously was depicted on HBO's Hard Knocks: Offseason openly discussing his plan to let Barkley walk if his price tag came in too rich for the team. Co-owner John Mara warned he'd be restless if their "best player," as he put it, ended up at a division rival like Philadelphia.
Well, that's exactly what happened and Barkley made Schoen eat his words upon his return to East Rutherford, New Jersey. He came within 101 yards of breaking Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing yards record this year (2,105).
McKinney, however, was a little more of a low-key departure. He was a defensive standout in his time with the team but he really took off with Green Bay, recording eight interceptions which was good for second-most in the league, once again proving Schoen's judgment wrong.
Fans were certainly lost for any semblance of consolation in the fact that their team let two huge talents walk and doubled down on the failed quarterback experiment named Daniel Jones (who was waived in late November, by the way).
McKinney and Saquon both ALL PRO ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ everything we do is wrong ๐ญ https://t.co/qNP23E2xUx
โ el Jefรฉ (@JefePil) January 10, 2025
Joe Schoen let Xavier McKinney and Saquon Barkley walk, and they proceeded to win 1st team all pro nods, and will be facing off against each other on Sunday. Hell of a year for the Giants LOL
โ ๎จ๐ฅBourbon n' Whiz๐ง๎จ (@Ferd_Turgeson) January 10, 2025
Next time people mention players who arent getting re-signed should be traded before the deadline instead of released into free agency, remember how it felt to see Xavier McKinney and Saquon Barkley on the NFL AP All Pro list knowing the Giants have nothing to show for it.
โ ๐ ฒ๐๐๐ (@Introvert_Curt) January 10, 2025
Wow just now realizing that the Giants have 2 players that made 1st team All-Pro (Barkley & McKinney)
โ Sadiddy (@luv_poet) January 10, 2025
..except theyโre both on new teams
How that GM kept his job is a ScoobyDoo mystery https://t.co/5q9MqZbivM
Fans will hope Schoen can rectify his mistakes this offseason and in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft but many might not be holding their collective breath. It doesn't look like Barkley or McKinney will be regressing from terrorizing the league any time soon.