Buckle up — the NFL trade deadline is just under two weeks away. Expect to see endless rumors involving the New York Giants as they navigate the rest of the season as a semi-competitive 2-5 team.
Be on the lookout for trades well before the November 4 deadline. Names like Joe Flacco, Tyson Campbell, and Odafe Oweh are already on new teams. Fortunately or unfortunately — depending on how you look at it — the G-Men could be very active as the rumor mill kicks up. Don't be surprised when Evan Neal and Russell Wilson inevitably find their names in the change-of-scenery bucket.
But the latest intel about players Big Blue might bring in (not ship out) could pique fans’ interest. Since Malik Nabers tore his ACL, speculation around wide receiver help has been circling this franchise like sharks. It's been on everyone's mind, but senior NFL insider Dianna Russini just poured ice water on the fantasy in her latest update from around the league:
"Despite the loss of Malik Nabers, the Giants aren’t aggressively working the phones to add talent at receiver right now."Dianna Russini
Giants fans urged to bury WR trade upgrade hopes... for now
First and foremost, any receiver trade general manager Joe Schoen rolls with will be, in large part, to help rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart. The 22-year-old has been electric since taking over starting duties in Week 4, and it's overlooked that he's doing it all with a supporting cast of Wan'Dale Robinson, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, and Jalin Hyatt.
Secondly, any wideout acquired at the deadline would come with the understanding that this is ultimately Nabers' room. He's WR1, and the targets will go through him once he's able to get back onto the field. So, there's a balance that must be struck.
That being said, Russini's report certainly is interesting. It wasn't all that long ago, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero were reporting the G-Men were burning out their minutes plans, calling around the league for receiver help. Furthermore, Schoen just restructured Paulson Adebo and Jevón Holland's contracts, freeing up just under $5 million.
This isn't exactly the update fans were hoping for. The team is once again last in the division, but they’re two literal last-minute drives away from being in the thick of the playoff hunt at 4-3. This roster’s more competitive than the record shows, and if the Giants are serious about building around Dart, sitting out the deadline isn’t it.