Entering the season, the thought that the New York Giants would be positioned as buyers at the trade deadline would have been ridiculous. It would have felt utterly impossible after Jaxson Dart's season-ending injury.
But by some sequence of miracles, John Harbaugh's team sits alone atop the NFC East nearly halfway through the year. J.J. McCarthy's first start gave Big Blue a jolt of confidence that could carry it straight into the playoffs.
While the Giants still shouldn't be heavily leveraging their future for the sake of short-term improvements, they should be keeping tabs on trade deadline sellers. One of those sellers is expected to be the Los Angeles Chargers, who are the only remaining winless team in the NFL.
The Chargers have a few intriguing trade chips that the Giants should already be exploring.
Khalil Mack would solve Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux problem
Without Brian Burns, the G-Men are severely limited on the edge. Abdul Carter has taken another step this season, but it has become clear that Kayvon Thibodeaux isn't the answer opposite him. The former first-round pick has been largely ineffective this season and could even be traded away at the deadline if the right offer comes through.
As explosive as Carter and Burns are as pass rushers, neither player is as strong against the run as Khalil Mack. The Chargers veteran could give Dennard Wilson's defense an immediate upgrade over Thibodeaux while significantly improving its ability to set the edge.
If it's only going to cost a fourth-round pick, Joe Schoen should make the call.
Quentin Johnston could give Giants freedom to bench Darnell Mooney
Darnell Mooney doesn't need to be getting targets on this Giants team. Unless he's getting manufactured touches, he isn't effective at this point in his career. Unfortunately, the Giants don't have many other receiver options outside of Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields.
Adding Quentin Johnston could change that. The Chargers wideout may not fit the same physical profile as Mooney, but he offers a similar play style. He's explosive after the catch and thrives on quick looks and crossers more than vertical routes.
Johnston would give the G-Men a more well-rounded passing attack without costing too much.
Donte Jackson is the reinforcement that the Giants' secondary needs
Even after adding Greg Newsome II and Colton Hood this offseason, the Giants are alarmingly thin at cornerback. Newsome II and Paulson Adebo have both dealt with injuries this season, and Hood hasn't been trusted with defensive snaps in recent weeks.
Donte Jackson represents another capable cornerback in the rotation, which is exactly what New York needs. He's 30 years old and on an expiring contract, so a seventh-round draft pick might be enough to get a deal done.
Daiyan Henley can be Giants' Tremaine Edmunds replacement
After losing Tremaine Edmunds to a chest injury for the season, the Giants have limited options at linebacker. Micah McFadden did an admirable job of filling in for Edmunds against the Houston Texans, but it wouldn't hurt to add another capable backer at the deadline.
Daiyan Henley has taken a step back this year, but who hasn't for the Chargers? At his best, Henley is still a starting-caliber linebacker with Pro-Bowl potential. He's on the final year of his rookie contract, so he would need an extension. If the Giants are willing to give him a new contract, Henley could solidify their linebacker room for years to come.
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