The New York Giants still have team needs. Fans don’t get a chance to see a lot of NFL trades. It’s too bad not a ton of activity takes place before the deadline, which is less than ten days away (October 28th). There are some interesting names to consider—often never moved—and once in awhile you get that Percy Harvin surprise.
I wanted to have a little fun with this post. While I think it’s pretty unlikely the Giants make a move at the deadline, I don’t think it would necessarily be a bad thing if they ended up picking someone up. There are still holes on the team and units that need to perform better, and maybe picking up a backup at a certain position could add a valuable depth piece, and could prove to be much more valuable down the road.
Look how smart the Patriots look trading for the Bears’ Jon Bostic now that Donta Hightower is banged up. Not saying Bostic is a great player, but he’s a legitimate NFLer, and now the Pats could really use him. Maybe the Giants have a player out there waiting to be picked up…
I made a small list of five potential pickups. To be clear: this is entirely hypothetical. I did not hear about any of these, ready any of these, nor am I trying to spread any rumors. I’m just trying to consider what could make some sense for both the Giants and the teams they’d hypothetically trade with based on their 2015 record, 2016 prospects, depth, etc.
So, here you are: four players who the Giants should and could potentially trade for:
Marcedes Lewis – TE, JacksonvilleOct 11, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (89) celebrate a touchdown in the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Does anyone remember this guy? Even from the Madden video games? With Daniel Fells’ sad injury wiping him out for the year, the Giants are in need of a tight end, particularly one who could block given Larry Donnell’s struggles on the line. A 6’6”, 275 mauler who caught 10 touchdowns back in 2010, Lewis would be an interesting fit.
At 31-years-old and only having six catches through the seasons first six games though, you could easily make the argument Lewis is done. He very may well be on his last legs, but I’ve always been interested in what the UCLA product could’ve done in an offense that didn’t have Blaine Gabbert blindly throwing the ball somewhat in his general vicinity. Eli seems to find ways to make any receiver at least semi-productive, from Derek Hagen to Bear Pascoe. With Julius Thomas already breaking the bank in Jacksonville and being that the Jaguars are in the AFC, I wonder what the Giants would be able to do with Lewis.
Derrick Morgan – DE, TitansOct 11, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) gets away from pressure by Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan (91) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
If Derrick Morgan were not kind of in the midst of a breakout 2015, I would consider this a more realistic option. For now, I’ll say very highly unlikely, and very wishful thinking.
Morgan has 4.5 sacks through 5 games this year, on pace to clobber his career-season-high of 6.5, And he’s an overall solid end—not something you find all that often around the NFL. If he were off to a slow start and the Titans were starting to regret the +$25 million they gave Morgan in the offseason, I would see him as a high-reward option.
However, he looks like a cornerstone piece on a Titans team trying to rebuild. Doubt he’s going anywhere, but considering the Giants’ need for pass rushers, they should exhaust all options.
- Shea McClellin – LB, Bears
I’d be a little surprised if the Bears shipped a former first-rounder to an NFC team, but they did it with Jared Allen to Carolina and they seem ready to unload (rumors of trading Matt Forte have some legs), so why not trade McClellin? He can’t seem to find a position at linebacker, bouncing inside and out, and he’s never completely become the pass rusher he was thought to be out of college. Could a change of scenery help? Maybe so. I’d be interested to see what Steve Spagnuolo could do with an athletic, versatile, if struggling, linebacker. Could be a good buy-low guy should the Bears sell big.
- Rob Housler – TE, Browns
I realize at this point—this isn’t the sexiest list of players I could’ve put together.
Dec 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Rob Housler (84) celebrates after the Cardinals scored against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Levi
But for the sake of not making this list look totally out of whack and trying to make it somewhat realistic, I close out with the third string tight end of the Cleveland Browns. Unlike Lewis, Housler isn’t a great blocker—something the Giants do need at tight end. But Housler has a lot of athleticism and could catch the ball. His problem has always been consistency.
Now that Gary Barnidge has broken out, Housler will not see the field, making him expendable. A bad AFC team looking to collect draft picks to make up for the draft busts they’ve selected over the years? Could be a match for the 3-2 Giants. Not saying this will happen, but it wouldn’t totally shock me if this was a move they were considering.
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