In a season that most Big Blue faithful would prefer to scrub from their memory banks, the vibe inside the facility isn’t entirely bleak for the Giants. While the win-loss column tells a depressing story of another lost year in East Rutherford, the film tells a different tale for a trio of Giants playing for their financial futures.
Usually, General Manager Joe Schoen likes to get ahead of the curve. In past seasons, the bye week was his time to strike, handing out extensions to core pieces before the market could drive up the price. But with a late Week 14 bye and a roster in flux, the checkbook stayed closed this December. That silence from the front office might end up costing the franchise a premium, because three key starters: Wan’Dale Robinson, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Cor’Dale Flott are just four games away from hitting the open market in the midst of career-best seasons.
For these guys, the team struggles haven’t dimmed their individual shine. In fact, they’ve arguably made themselves indispensable.
Wan’Dale Robinson: Proving He’s More Than Just a Gadget
Let’s be honest: when the Giants drafted Robinson, the knock was his size. Could he survive outside? Was he just a gadget player? This season, Robinson didn’t just answer those questions; he buried them.
He’s currently pacing the team in receiving and, perhaps more impressively, leads the entire NFL in receiving yards from the slot. We aren’t talking about dink-and-dunk stuff, either. Robinson is averaging nearly 40 yards more in the slot than Detroit’s star Amon-Ra St. Brown. That is elite company.
The market for slot receivers exploded last offseason when Khalil Shakir inked a deal worth up to $15 million annually. Robinson and his camp have undoubtedly circled that number. Considering Robinson is putting up these numbers as the focal point of a struggling offense, and seeing double teams for the first time in his pro career, he has a legitimate case to reset the market.
There is an emotional component here, too. Robinson has developed legitimate chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“I love New York, and this is the place that drafted me,” Robinson told ESPN.
But he also knows the business. If the Giants want to keep Dart’s favorite safety valve, it’s going to require a massive check.
Jermaine Eluemunor: The Anchor the Giants Desperately Need
For the better part of a decade, the Giants’ offensive line was a punchline. It was a turnstile that got quarterbacks hurt and stalled drives. That narrative shifted this year, largely due to the arrival of Eluemunor.
Signed to a modest two-year, $14 million deal, Eluemunor has arguably been the best pound-for-pound signing of the Schoen era. Playing opposite Andrew Thomas, he’s solidified the right side of the line in a way fans haven’t seen in years. His 88.5 pass block win rate isn’t just good for a Giant, it’s top-tier tackle play, period.
At 30 years old, Eluemunor knows this is his shot at a final, substantial payday. He’s looking at the two-year, $44 million extension Taylor Moton got in Carolina and likely seeing his floor. He wants to stay; he’s got a young family and craves stability, but proven tackles don’t hit the market often. If New York lets him walk, someone else will happily pay him to protect their quarterback.
Cor’Dale Flott: The Quiet Breakout
Perhaps the most surprising development has been the emergence of Flott. For three years, he was a man without a true position, shuffled between the slot and the boundary. This year, forced onto the outside due to struggles elsewhere in the secondary, Flott locked it down.
According to Next Gen Stats, quarterbacks are completing just 55.4% of passes when targeting Flott. That’s top-25 efficiency in a league skewed heavily toward the offense. With top-end corners like Paulson Adebo commanding $18 million a year, Flott has played his way into a tax bracket nobody expected him to reach six months ago.
The Front Office Dilemma
This leaves the Giants in a precarious spot. You generally don’t want to pay top dollar to retain players from a losing squad. It feels counterintuitive. However, letting your best playmaker, your most reliable lineman, and your most improved defender walk out the door for nothing is a recipe for perpetual rebuilding.
Schoen has some tough math to do. The loss hurts, but for Robinson, Eluemunor, and Flott, 2025 has been a resounding victory. The price of the brick just went up.
