Something's brewing in East Rutherford. What exactly the New York Giants are up to remains to be seen, yet something (or someone) is coming — and it could shock people.
NFL on Prime's James Palmer has teased that a "monster move" is "out there" and repeatedly mentioned the "very aggressive" Giants. Adam Schefter of ESPN has said New York "seems hell-bent on upgrading its roster" ahead of the rapidly approaching trade deadline. Buckle up and enjoy a potentially wild ride.
Evidently, the Giants want to make a splash. Time will tell who they're eyeing, though running back and defensive tackle, specifically the latter, have been areas of emphasis. Other positions make sense, too, with the club "[turning] over every stone," as head coach John Harbaugh stated.
Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Grover Stewart, Vita Vea; the list goes on. We've all heard the high-profile names rumored to be on the radar. However, can Harbaugh and the front office pull a rabbit out of their hat?
In control of their own fate, New York ostensibly smells blood in the water. They see a golden opportunity to secure the NFC East title and host a playoff game for the first time in over a decade. Based on their needs, the four players below profile as dark-horse targets.
4 long-shot all-in trade deadline targets for the New York Giants
ILB Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Smith, 29, is under contract through 2027, with a $32.7 million cap hit this season and next. The four-time Pro Bowler is still one of football's most productive and versatile inside linebackers. He's tied with the Cleveland Browns' Carson Schwesinger for fifth in the league in tackles (74), adding four pass deflections, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Connections go a long way in this business, and Smith's ties to New York are as good as any. The Ravens acquired him in 2022, when Harbaugh was at the helm. Their stints overlapped for three-plus years, with the former earning two All-Pro nods during that stretch.
Nevertheless, the obvious elephant in the room is Tremaine Edmunds, who's out for the rest of the campaign with a torn chest muscle. Big Blue signed him to a three-year, $36 million pact in free agency this offseason, with no potential out until after 2027. Smith's hypothetical arrival complicates matters, of course, especially considering standout rookie Arvell Reese isn't going anywhere, but that's a later problem for Harbaugh and Co.
DL Nnamdi Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
From one Raven to another, Harbaugh has multiple intriguing resources in his Rolodex. A scary neck injury derailed Madubuike early in 2025, but he's back to being a disruptor in the middle of Baltimore's defensive line.
The Harbaugh-led Ravens selected Madubuike in the third round of the 2020 draft (No. 71 overall). At his peak, he was arguably the NFL's premier interior pass rusher, posting a career-high 13 sacks in 2023. The Texas A&M product is also a more-than-capable run defender.
Madubuike can fix a lot of the Giants' issues up front. The team would also have an escape hatch this offseason if things don't work out. By cutting him with a post-June 1 designation, they'd save $22.5 million in cap space while leaving behind roughly $7.8 million in dead money.
It's a matter of Baltimore, sitting at 4-5 and in last place in their division, being willing to wave the white flag on what looks like a lost season. They have to move forward without their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who's out indefinitely with a thumb injury.
DL Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
Carolina's firing of defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has our attention. It's enough to make you wonder if a roster teardown is possible, and Brown is an elite trade piece.
For what it's worth, the Panthers have reportedly "shown no interest" in parting ways with Brown (h/t Joseph Person of The Athletic). That's also the stance the Tennessee Titans took on stalwart DT Jeffery Simmons before getting two first-round picks, plus a fourth-rounder from the Chicago Bears. Everyone's untouchable until they aren't.
All things considered, Brown is probably the most appealing pie-in-the-sky big option. He's firmly in his prime at 28 and doesn't become a free agent until 2029. The 2020 No. 7 overall pick is a true force at the line of scrimmage, particularly as an elite run-stopper, where New York struggles mightily.
EDGE Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, as the saying goes. Hunter can become one of the good guys after being on the wrong side of history in the Giants' road upset win over the Texans.
While an increased willingness to blitz and Abdul Carter's continued growth have helped mitigate Brian Burns' absence, a massive pass-rushing hole remains. Whether DC Dennard Wilson's approach of dialing up the heat is sustainable is debatable and leaves the G-Men exposed on the back end. Hunter, who's recorded the third-most sacks since 2015, solves that problem in spades and rounds out the dynamic trio many expected Kayvon Thibodeaux to complete.
Thibodeaux is a candidate for the franchise tag, which projects to be around $28 million, in the coming offseason. In terms of value, Hunter's $30.2 million base salary for next year is a much better bargain. Houston is falling out of contention in the AFC South and Wild Card race, so being sellers rather than buyers makes sense.
Despite some win-now additions in recent months, the Texans may be better off trying to replenish the assets they've given up. Hunter is a strong bargaining chip, one who can fill Burns' void in the short term and replace Thibodeaux in the long run.
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