Last season, we saw the NY Giants somehow manage to make the playoffs with a record of 9-7-1. The Giants roster, on paper, wasn't bad by any means. However, most teams in that situation don't even sniff the playoffs. Now, in 2023, the Giants have a much-improved roster that could very well make a deep run in the playoffs.
Despite this, wouldn't it be nice to see the Giants do more than just make a playoff run? Perhaps, even make or win the Super Bowl? While the current team likely isn't constructed to go too deep into the playoffs, they could be just a couple of moves away from doing so.
We see big-time players hit the market almost every season. However, we haven't seen the Giants go after one of these guys. This time around, though, we could see the Giants be more aggressive than usual. Not only do they have a new regime, but the team is in a much better situation than they have been in years. With that said, here's five players to keep in mind moving forward:
5. EDGE Danielle Hunter
In recent weeks, edge-rusher Danielle Hunter has been mentioned in trade talks due to the fact that his contract is set to expire after this season. if the Vikings are fully committed to moving on from the three-time Pro Bowler, the Giants should definitely make it known that they are interested. New York already has a pass-rushing core that features Azeez Ojulari, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence, so why not add Hunter into the equation?
Adding a player like this to the Giants' defense would help them make the leap from an average core, to a sensational one. Last season, Hunter racked up 65 combined tackles and 10.5 sacks. In addition to this, Hunter made his third Pro Bowl alongside Lawrence and Saquon Barkley.
Who knows what it would cost for the Giants to acquire Hunter. However, one thing to keep in mind is that if they opt to trade for him, they are going to have to work out an extension. This shouldn't scare fans away, though, as Hunter would be worth every penny.
Hopefully, the Vikings continue to make the dumb decision of letting their top players go. They already cut Dalvin Cook, so it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world if Minnesota opted to trade away arguably their best defender.
4. LB Lavonte David
While David did re-sign on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers this offseason, it wouldn't surprise us to see him be traded by the deadline if the team underperforms. In this scenario, the Giants must hop on the train in order to bring in the three-time All-Pro member.
New York may already have Bobby Okereke, however, imagine having not one great linebacker, but two. Okereke is a tremendous run-stopper, and so is David. However, what separates the two is the fact that David is one of the top coverage linebackers in the league. With how pass-heavy the modern NFL offense is, having a linebacker that can succeed in coverage is almost a necessity at times.
Last season, David racked up 124 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks. Alongside this, Davis also allowed 61 receptions on 76 targets for 484 yards and one touchdown, breaking up five passes in the process while earning a PFF coverage grade of 88.5. This ranked second in the league among all linebackers in the NFL.
David may just be on a one-year deal. However, adding a guy like this for the final half of the season could make a massive difference for the Giants come playoff time. Forget how talented he still is, the experience David brings alone would be huge for the Giants' playoff aspirations.
3. S Budda Baker
A seemingly forgotten storyline from this offseason is the fact that Cardinals' star safety Budda Baker requested a trade after the team's horrific 2022 season. However, we certainly haven't forgotten and hopefully, the NY Giants haven't either. With the loss of Julian Love, Joe Schoen very well could make a move for Baker if Dane Belton disappoints early on.
Pairing Baker next to Xavier McKinney could be one of the deadliest safety duos in the entire NFL. Baker may not be an elite coverage guy like McKinney, but he more than makes up for it with his ability against the run. This ability would make Baker a near-perfect fit in Wink Martindale's system. This sort of versatility is key in the modern NFL.
Baker has one year left and then a club option on his deal. While an extension isn't necessary for any trade deal, it would probably help. Adding a versatile safety such as this to the Giants' defense could very well push them closer to winning their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history.
The toughest part about this deal is the fact that Baker has a cap hit of $16.8 million. This means that Schoen would have to pull off some cap space miracles in order to make a trade work. However, adding a player like Baker would be worth the struggle.
2. WR Davante Adams
Considering that Davante Adams left a favorable situation in Green Bay in order to play with Derek Carr in Las Vegas, it wouldn't surprise us one bit to see him request yet another trade now that Carr is gone and the Raiders look as lost as ever.
Adding Adams to this Giants roster would give them the WR1 they've desperately been asking for. Not only would he be arguably the best receiver the team has ever seen, but he'd elevate the offense to one of the best units in the league.
Through 17 games last season, Adams caught 100 passes for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns. Keep in mind that these numbers came with a Raiders team that won just six games due to some mediocre QB play from Carr and Jarrett Stidham. With that in mind, we can only imagine what he'd do with the better team, playing alongside a better quarterback.
Similar to Baker, the Giants would have to create some cap space in order to bring Adams in. Not only does he have a $25 million cap hit this season, but if the Giants choose to not let him go after the 2024 season, Adams will have a cap hit of $44 million for two seasons. It will be tough to bring Adams in. However, this sort of player is exactly what the Giants could use to boost their Super Bowl odds.
1. DL Aaron Donald
This is the least likely player to be made available. However, there is still definitely a chance that Aaron Donald is made available. This all relies on whether or not the Rams wish to fully commit to rebuilding, which they likely do. Another thing that could make this tough is how often Donald's name has been swirled in rumors surrounding his potential retirement.
Despite all of this, if he is made available and commits to playing the remainder of his contract, it may be in the Giants' best interest to trade for him. Just imagine a defensive line that consists of Lawrence, Donald, and Leonard Williams. There would not be a better trio in the NFL and we have no doubt about that.
Through 11 games last season, Donald racked up five sacks, 45 combined tackles, and a forced fumble. Adding that next to Lawrence would make arguably the best interior defensive line duo the league has ever seen. While they are both technically nose guards, Lawrence and Donald have tons of experience over tackle and really all over the defensive line.
There are few doubts that they'd be able to make it work. Again, this is a long shot, but you never know what could happen midseason with the Rams and Donald.