New York Giants: Lack of a plan shines through as trade deadline passes

The only logical explanation to draw from New York Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman’s moves, is that he must think this 2019 team can actually compete – that’s a scary thought.

Count me as one of the people that covers this team that is shocked that the New York Giants have chosen to part with draft capital and cap space – rather than acquire it – as the 2019 NFL trade deadline has now officially passed. While it’s true that I’m not in the room with Dave Gettleman, I find it hard to believe that not a single contender was willing to bring in Janoris Jenkins – or any other pieces – in an attempt to make their team better.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger Janoris Jenkins fan or defender than me, but the idea of trading away a 31-year-old, that plays a position the team currently has a ton of potential young talent at, is a one that needs to be taken advantage of, regardless of whatever the perceived lack of compensation in return was. When you factor in said 31-year-old is due 21M$ over the next year and a half (with little dead cap), it makes it all the more confusing why he is still on this team.

I could be wrong about there being Jenkins suitors out there (although numerous respected sources say otherwise) but even if I am, it makes the decision to acquire free-agent-to-be Leonard Williams all the more perplexing. Many were telling me that the move wouldn’t end up being so bad, because we were bound to acquire assets to make up for the ones we lost as the deadline neared – that did not happen. I never really thought any team would be crazy enough to take on Alec Ogletree or Nate Solder’s deals, so I wont criticize the GM for that – Gettleman was always going to have to get somewhat creative to make this a successful trade deadline, it just doesn’t appear he had that in him (that might have entailed him actually make the first phone call, sigh).

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For the readers that are growing tired of me criticizing Gettleman and this regime, I sympathize with you, and ask that you bare with me, as no one enjoys being negative less than me. I simply want the best for this franchise, and as a journalist I feel I owe it to you to tell the truth. The truth is, I struggle to see a clear and concise plan with this regime, and the only thing I want moving forward is for everyone in the organization to be on the same page.

The most tried and true way for a team to get better, is to acquire as many assets as possible, while jettisoning (or never bringing in) older players that won’t be part of future plans and evaluating ones that potentially could be. Dave Gettleman has toed the line in that regard – back and forth – ever since he took over. This team is going no where fast, and to think we now have less assets than we did yesterday is a bitter pill to swallow.

Even still, if his signature draft selection – Daniel Jones – can continue to show signs of being a legitimate franchise quarterback, much of this will be moot. I could not be more encouraged in what I’ve seen out of the rookie from Duke, and he should continue to be at the forefront of any decisions made moving forward.

Dave Gettleman’s strongest suit has been uncovering gems with mid-to-later round draft picks, which is a major reasons I’m so disappointed he did not acquire any today. The only thing I can take out of him giving up assets to acquire an impending free agent, not trading any of the veteran talent on the team to add cap space and draft capital to his cache, and bringing back a 38-year-old Eli Manning (who was only guaranteed 25% of his 2019 salary) to being the season, is that he does not think this football team is far off from competing, right now – that’s a terrifying conclusion for anyone that’s watched enough of this squad.

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Rebuilding on the fly has proven to be a fool’s errand, and this team has far too many holes to think that is a logical gameplan. I’m not saying the Giants need to tear every single aspect of the team down a la the Miami Dolphins, but looking to acquire assets instead of trading them is a far cry from that.

After today, there are very few things the front office can do the rest of the way that can impact this football team, so in turn I will look to highlight the many positives aspects of this franchise moving forward. Truth be told – as poorly as these last twenty months have gone – a shrewd executive could take the talent, salary cap situation and draft assets and turn it into a functional group if they were to do all the right things moving forward.

For everyone’s sake, I truly hope Dave Gettleman is that guy. I’m just not holding my breath.

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