With the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the rumor mill is swirling around the belief that the New York Giants are going to draft Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love? I mean, how can they not? He's probably the most talented player in the draft, and they clearly have plans to utilize his versatility.
John Harbaugh evidently wants to add a game-changer to the running back room, so if Love is either off the board or they cannot justify drafting him at 5 over Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles, the Giants can exhaust another option to address the RB room: swinging a blockbuster deal for De'Von Achane.
Apparently, the Achane and the Miami Dolphins are at an impasse in extension negotiations to the point that he could be available for trade. After all, the Dolphins appear to be headed towards a rebuild after trading Jaylen Waddle, so who's to say that Jon-Eric Sullivan won't deal Achane, even though he reported to voluntary OTAs?
In the event Achane gets dealt, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton floated the Giants as a potential landing spot. Rather than breaking the bank to draft Love at five, Achane likely wouldn't require a first-round pick to acquire, so for an early Day 2 pick, the value is way better in taking Downs or Styles than acquiring the 24-year-old.
The New York Giants are being floated as a team to watch for De'Von Achane
Moton noted the Giants' current RB tandem is solid, revolving around a rotation between Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., in addition to Jaxson Dart's mobility. Neither are players capable of building an offense around, which Harbaugh should want after having Derrick Henry in Baltimore.
""Draft analysts and NFL insiders have linked the New York Giants to top running back prospect Jeremiyah Love. If the Notre Dame prospect isn't on the board for Big Blue at No. 5, the front office can pivot to an alternative option for a three-down tailback."Moe Moton.
"The Giants have running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr., but De'Von Achane would be an immediate upgrade over them. New York can offer the latter in a trade to pair Skattebo's rugged run style with Achane's explosive playmaking ability, forming a tantalizing one-two combination out of the backfield.""
Having an RB you can rely on for 30 touches a game is a sign of the times in the modern NFL, especially one who can make an impact as a runner and a receiver. Achane can be that. The Pro Bowler had his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 and was knocking on the door of 2,000 scrimmage yards.
Just like Love, Achane has that every-down skillset. Not only is he one of the most dynamic speedsters in the NFL at the running back position, but he's also caught 145 passes across the last two seasons. So if Big Blue actually was to trade for him, he, not Skattebo, would be the long-term RB1.
The one caveat of any Achane trade is that the Texas A&M product is looking to surpass $20 million in AAV on a new deal. Between him, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs, the RB market is about to be reset, so the only way the G-Men clear the money for a trade is by trading Dexter Lawrence, as Moton said.
""In order to execute the trade and sign Achane to an extension, the Giants can unload defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II in a deal. Keep in mind that the team only has $6.5 million in cap space.""Moe Moton
So if passing on the Doak Walker Award winner paves the way for an Achane trade, no Giants fan should be complaining.
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