The trade deadline has come and gone for Big Blue, and it was all quiet out of 1925 Giants Drive. Rumors flew for weeks about the New York Giants potentially being in trade talks with teams like the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and New Orleans Saints for one of their receivers, but nothing ever came of it.
General manager Joe Schoen worked the phones, but when the deals came out about compensation, the price tags were simply too high.
One name that kept flashing was Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. A potential deal for Waddle looked close to happening one day and completely dead the next. Ultimately, the Giants had no choice but to walk away from any negotiation involving the 27-year-old wideout. Waddle would’ve been an instant No. 1 target for Jaxson Dart and would’ve paired perfectly with Malik Nabers once he returns from injury next season.
Waddle is under contract until 2029, so the Giants wouldn’t have had to worry about him being a midseason rental who could walk in free agency. Getting someone like him while Dart, Nabers, and others are still on rookie deals would’ve been a smart, win-now move for an offense that’s shown surprising signs of life over the past month.
Giants pass on deadline splash as price for WR help proves too steep
For Schoen and Co., once they saw the compensation being given up for other receivers — and were told the base asking price for Waddle was at least a first-round pick — they backed out of negotiations. At 2-7, facing another lost year, it’s hard to blame them. The Giants are currently projected to land another top-five pick, and with a loaded wide receiver class in the 2026 NFL Draft, reinforcements may come cheaper.
Should either Arizona State wide receiver Jordan Tyson or Ohio State standout Carnell Tate be available when the G-Men are on the clock, it will be hard to pass on the opportunity to add another dynamic playmaker opposite Nabers.
That said, missing out on a sure-thing like Waddle could sting if the Giants enter 2026 still unsure about their receiving corps. Jaxson Dart has already shown flashes of stardom — now it’s up to the front office to make sure he’s not doing it alone.