Giants GM Joe Schoen Shuts Down NFL Draft Lottery Idea: Here’s Why

Should the NFL Add a Draft Lottery? Giants GM Says “No Way!” — And Here’s Why

Imagine this: The New York Giants, one of the NFL's most storied franchises, have made eight top-10 picks since 2015. Yeah, that’s a lot. If this were the NBA or NHL, we’d be talking lottery balls and ping-pong machines. But in the NFL? Nope — it’s all about straight-up records and draft order. No randomness. Just results.

Now, for fans of chaos and drama (we see you, NBA Draft Night lovers), the idea of an NFL draft lottery might sound pretty thrilling. But not everyone’s on board — especially Giants general manager Joe Schoen.

During a recent sit-down on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, Schoen didn’t mince words. "I would not, I would not be in favor of that," he told Adams, talking about the idea of bringing a draft lottery to the NFL. And his reasoning? Well, it’s kind of hard to argue with it.

“Typically, if you're picking up there [in the top 10], what’s the most important position for a franchise?” Schoen asked, leaning into the logic. “If you’re in that position, you probably earned the right to get one of those players that can turn the luck around for the franchise for potentially 15 to 20 years.”

That’s the thing with football — one top pick can change everything. Quarterbacks are the holy grail in this league. If your team has a terrible season and finishes 3–14, don’t they deserve a shot at the next franchise quarterback without some lottery twist throwing a wrench in the works?

Let’s be honest: the Giants have had a rough ride over the past decade. They’ve been through head coaches, quarterbacks, and rebuild after rebuild. Their recent draft history reflects that pain — and hope. And under Schoen’s leadership, the team has picked in the top six three out of four times.

Sure, those high draft picks might’ve come even in a lottery system, thanks to favorable odds. But that’s the thing — it’s never guaranteed. Just ask hockey fans. The New York Islanders stunned everyone when they jumped up from the 11th spot to win the top pick in the NHL Draft Lottery. Total shocker. And in the NBA? Dallas Mavericks had less than a 2% shot at the No. 1 pick — and they still hit the jackpot.

So yeah, anything can happen in a lottery — which is both the fun and the frustration. It's a system meant to prevent "tanking," that ugly word that basically means teams are losing on purpose to chase better draft position. That’s why the NBA and NHL implemented lotteries — to protect the integrity of their games.

But the NFL’s different. It thrives on parity — that beautiful model where, theoretically, any team can bounce back quickly if they draft well, coach smart, and avoid an injury meltdown. Every Sunday feels like anything can happen, and that’s a huge reason why fans love the league.

The draft itself is a massive part of the NFL’s appeal. Unlike in other sports, a great pick can flip a franchise instantly. Think of Joe Burrow with the Bengals, or Trevor Lawrence turning the Jaguars into playoff contenders. Those picks came because teams were flat-out bad — but they were rewarded for those poor records. No luck. Just logic.

That’s why Schoen — and many others — see the current system as fair. If your team stinks, you earn the top pick. And when you’ve got so many holes to fill, you need every bit of certainty you can get.

Here's something to chew on:

What Makes the NFL Draft Unique?

• Direct order by record: No lottery — worst team picks first.

• Immediate impact positions: A quarterback or edge rusher can change your season.

• Parity-driven league: The NFL wants teams to cycle up and down — not create dynasties through luck.

• No G-League or Minor League system: You’re picking real talent that’s expected to play ASAP.

And really, the system works. Fans aren’t screaming about tanking (unless you’re a 0-17 team and it’s Week 18). Even the worst teams usually still play hard late in the season, because one win can knock them out of the top-5 — and teams are very aware of that.

But hey, it's not like the lottery is all bad. It has created some memorable sports drama, and it’s definitely helped prevent some teams from gaming the system. In the NBA, teams now think twice before sending their starters to the bench with a month left in the season.

Still, the NFL isn’t built the same way. With only 17 games, every win or loss holds massive weight. Tanking? Way harder to do in football. Too many moving parts. Too many guys fighting for contracts. Too much pride.

Now, back to the Giants — if the NFL had used a lottery system over the past decade, things might’ve played out very differently for them. Maybe they’d still land those top picks. Maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe they'd have missed out on players like Kayvon Thibodeaux or Daniel Jones, who were high selections based on straight standings.

But again — why mess with a system that works? That’s Joe Schoen’s take, and frankly, it makes a lot of sense. The NFL doesn’t need the draft to be a spectacle of randomness. It’s already a blockbuster event, with millions tuning in just to see who their team adds.

And let’s face it — the New York Giants might not have found themselves in the lottery winner’s circle anyway, even if the NFL adopted the system. The way their luck has gone the past few years? It’s anyone’s guess.

So Should the NFL Consider a Draft Lottery?

Let’s break it down:

• Pros:

  • Adds drama and unpredictability.

  • Discourages blatant tanking.

  • Keeps fan interest high even for non-playoff teams.

• Cons:

  • Undermines worst teams who need help the most.

  • Luck-based system in a results-driven league.

  • NFL parity already does the job of spreading talent.

At the end of the day, the NFL’s current format allows teams to truly earn their rebuilds. You finish dead last, you get the first pick. Clean and fair. There’s no ping-pong ball that decides your franchise’s future — just performance.

Joe Schoen’s message is loud and clear: keep the draft how it is. And honestly? That might be the smartest play.