A week ago, it would have seemed overzealous for the New York Giants to swing a midseason trade. Even if they sat atop the NFC East, their laundry list of injuries raised questions about whether they could truly be competitive. They looked more likely to be sellers than buyers at the deadline.
J.J. McCarthy changed that conversation in five quarters of football. The former Minnesota Vikings castoff has the G-Men looking as explosive as any team in the division, even with limited support. He was excellent against the Houston Texans and looks primed to maintain his hot start with Big Blue.
If McCarthy is going to keep this up, would it be so bad for New York to add another receiver to his arsenal? Perhaps a Jacksonville Jaguars receiver who's been on the outs?
Giants should consider making a splash with a Brian Thomas Jr. trade
Brian Thomas Jr. has been a well-known trade candidate for months. The former first-round pick has fallen down the pecking order in Jacksonville, thanks to drops and an unclear fit in Liam Coen's offense.
His production has dropped off a cliff since his elite rookie season, and he has just nine catches for 105 yards and a score this season. With the trade deadline approaching, the Jaguars might be more willing than ever to move on from the wideout.
The Giants should put in an offer for him. Outside of Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely, they don't have a consistent pass-catcher. Rookie Malachi Fields had a strong game against the Houston Texans, but he hasn't been able to string productive performances together. Darnell Mooney is playing a significant role despite consistent mistakes.
Adding Thomas Jr. to the mix would give New York another downfield threat for McCarthy. His speed could open up more space underneath for Nabers and Likely to take advantage of.
If the Jaguars will take an early Day 3 pick for the receiver, the Giants should pull the trigger.
Giants' Malik Nabers connection could be what Brian Thomas Jr. needs
Maybe the power of friendship is all that Thomas Jr. needs to revive his career. He has a strong connection with Nabers that dates back to their days at LSU, as insider Jordan Raanan pointed out.
The two receivers were both elite in college, leading to first-round selections in the draft. To be clear, friendship isn't the only reason that the Giants should consider this trade. Nabers and Thomas Jr. have shown that their skill sets are complementary and that they can both be productive when sharing the field.
The G-Men should be looking for ways to turn their impressive start to the season into a playoff appearance. If Thomas Jr.'s price has dropped in recent weeks, this is a perfect opportunity to improve the roster without leveraging the future too heavily.
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