Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants concluded with Tuesday's finale on HBO and is available to stream on Max.
Following five picks' worth of waiting, the New York Giants got their guy -- and waited some more.
Leading up to the season finale of Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants, it was abundantly transparent that Malik Nabers was who they wanted at No. 6 overall in the 2024 šú˛úÍâÁ÷ÍřDraft.
However, as Tuesday night's episode revealed, general manager Joe Schoen tempered his and his staff's excitement to play the waiting game.
"We're gonna take our time," Schoen said. "Alright, hold on. Wait and see if the phone rings."
The phone did ring, with Daboll taking trade calls from the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets.
In the end, though, Big Blue had its game-changer and Schoen wasn't calling Colts general manager Chris Ballard or Jets GM Joe Douglas, he called the LSU wide receiver he's hoping will make an immediate impact.
"I was praying you weren't off the board," Schoen said. "You ready to be a New York Giant?"
To which Nabers replied, "Yessir, let's do it."
Prior to calling Nabers, the Giants began their theme for the draft -- playing the waiting game.
After the Arizona Cardinals took Marvin Harrison Jr. at No. 4, confidence grew because New York knew it would be able to grab Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze.
But it was clear again who the Giants were hoping for when Schoen asked head coach Brian Daboll if he thought the Chargers would take Joe Alt or JC Latham.
"Just not Malik," Daboll said.
The Bolts didn't take Nabers, allowing the Giants to grab him up.
Fittingly, the episode aired on the same night that the Chicago Bears agreed to a big-money extension with DJ Moore, which was announced by the team during the initial airing of Hard Knocks. It was the latest lucrative extension for a top-tier wideout this offseason.
In Nabers, the Giants believe they have a game-breaker who's also affordable.
"When you look at what some of these wide receivers are making now," Schoen said. "The APY of the wide receivers is going through the roof right now. So if you have a young 20-year-old player that's explosive and can upgrade our offense and [has an] ability to score touchdowns that's cost-controlled over a five-year period, it makes you feel real good."
The waiting game was back on after that, though.
With just six picks entering the draft, Schoen wasn't in the mind to move up and give away selections, so staying put was paramount.
Thus, with eyes on a cornerback, particularly Kool-Aid McKinstry or Kamari Lassiter, the Giants watched them go back-to-back in the second round at No. 42 and 43, respectively.
New York stuck at No. 47 and took a safety instead, Minnesota's Tyler Nubin.
Patience paid off, it seems, with Schoen asking defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, "Nubin's your No. 1 guy, right?"
Bowen answers in the affirmative for a player they see as a ballhawk, great communicator and leader.
"Can come in and contribute Year 1," Bowen said.
They're also able to nab a cornerback in the third round with Kentucky's Andru Phillips.
"He would be the last corner that we would be fired up about getting, before we get into the developmental guys," Schoen tells owner John Mara in a clip prior to the draft.
And so it goes that on paper -- and on the screen -- the Giants had reason to celebrate on draft day.
With the end of the show's season, the Giants return to reality, their rookies and other offseason acquisitions joining the returners in training camp, which is underway.
One of the NFL's most celebrated franchises allowed HBO's cameras an unprecedented look behind the scenes, unveiling the drama behind Saquon Barkley's departure, the honesty of doubts and support around Daniel Jones, the trade to get Brian Burns and the drafting of Nabers.
Now it's time to see how it plays out in the regular season.
As for Hard Knocks, it's moving on, as well, with the long-running series' premiere next Tuesday, Aug. 6, when Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears kicks off.
