The NY Giants’ roster offers the unique flexibility for Dave Gettleman to be both a buyer and a seller at the NFL trade deadline. Here are 3 trades he should make
NY Giants general manager Dave Gettleman might not be feeling internal heat in terms of his job security, but also finds himself in the unique position of possibly being able to be a buyer and a seller ahead of next week’s NFL trade deadline.
If the season ended today, the NY Giants would be choosing No. 2 overall in next April’s 2021 NFL Draft, but with nine games remaining are just one game back in the win column from the NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles with rematches remaining against the Dallas Cowboys without Dak Prescott, the Eagles potentially without Zach Ertz and DeSean Jackson, and a chance to sweep Washington.
What should Gettleman do?
A current NFL scout tells me that his top priority if he were in Gettleman’s shoes would be to accumulate as many draft picks as possible to build around quarterback Daniel Jones.
Fortunately for Gettleman and the Giants, this roster has several players that could be coveted by contending teams looking for a boost ahead of a possible playoff run.
Regardless of whether Gettleman believes the Giants can compete this year, the embattled general manager would be wise to add at least one playmaker on offense to help hasten Jones’ development both to possibly push him into being competitive in meaningful games and possibly develop good habits that come with having a reliable deep threat at receiver to throw to.
With those goals in mind, scroll through for a look at three possible trades that the Giants could, and arguably should make ahead of the deadline:
Evan Engram to Indianapolis Colts for 4th round pick
It’s becoming more obvious each week that NY Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has no idea how to use and maximize Evan Engram’s athleticism and explosiveness.
Despite Engram’s early season struggles, a current NFL GM tells GMenHQ that Engram will still be one of the most popular names that teams will be calling for, and believes Engram’s value is a Day 3 pick.
There is varying belief among executives around the league as to whether Engram is actually available, but Gettleman does not seem to be openly shopping the tight end who has caught just 26 passes for 223 yards this season.
However, the Indianapolis Colts would be an ideal landing spot for Engram.
Jack Doyle has been a disappointment this season, Engram would serve as an upgrade over Trey Burton, and Philip Rivers thrives at this stage of his career pushing the ball between the hash marks rather than outside the numbers.
Given Frank Reich’s track record of helping develop Zach Ertz into an elite tight end, Engram might be the piece that helps push the Colts across the finish line in the AFC Wild Card race, and adding draft capital would obviously be ideal for the Giants.
Golden Tate to Green Bay Packers for 6th round pick
The Packers desperately need help at wide receiver, and Golden Tate might be an ideal fit.
Aaron Rodgers seems to always get the most out of slot receivers such as Randall Cobb in year’s past and Alan Lazard pre-injury this season.
However, with Lazard sidelined, defenses now have the ability to double-team Aaron Jones and force Rodgers and the Packers to find other ways to beat them. That might work against the Houston Texans, but it certainly didn’t against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and likely won’t against the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, or San Francisco 49ers in a possible playoff game.
Enter, Golden Tate.
Through seven games this season, Tate has caught 20 of 26 targets for 195 yards and a touchdown, and as Pro Football Focus points out, Daniel Jones as a 110.3 passer rating when targeting him.
Giants fans, though should probably temper expectations on any compensation in any trade involving Tate, according to a general manager speaking to GMenHQ on the condition of anonymity because he isn’t allowed to speak publicly about players on other teams.
“They’re going to get calls on guys playing on the last year of their deals, you can bet on that,” the GM tells GMenHQ. “So, that probably rules Golden Tate out at his age and salary.”
Still, Tate has the versatility to contribute on the outside or from the slot, and is at his best after the catch, which might make him the perfect target for Rodgers’ skill-set.
B.J. Hill to Cincinnati Bengals for WR John Ross
A player for player swap, because, why not?
B.J. Hill is in the third year of his rookie contract, which makes him relatively cheap for any team looking to add a capable pass rusher, which is exactly what Hill has proven to be. So far this season, Hill has one sack and 11 total pressures in 102 pass-rush snaps this season.
Hill might be exactly the type of player the Bengals need, as their second half struggles pressuring Baker Mayfield in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns showed.
Likewise, the Giants need a field-stretching wide receiver opposite Darius Slayton, and while John Ross has been a bit of a disappointment so far in his career and his playing time has plumeted as Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have emerged as Joe Burrow’s favorite target, he just might benefit from a change of scenery.
If the Giants do wind up moving Tate and/or Engram, Ross could potentially be the type of player who creates space underneath for right end Kaden Smith and wide receiver Sterling Shepard while busting out a couple of big plays on his own.
Even if Engram and Tate are Giants next Wednesday morning, Ross is a low-risk/high-reward addition to an offense in dire need of game-breaking speed and playmaking ability.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.