The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m.
So will the 2-7 Giants — losers of three straight — make a deal for a wide receiver to help rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, with an eye toward next season?
Let’s break down that question — and some possible targets.
Yes, Dart will get receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo back next season, but both are done for the season. So that’s a factor here, as the Giants try to give Dart a fair shot in 2025, when they also need to evaluate whether they want to fire coach Brian Daboll.
As for the Giants’ 2026 NFL Draft haul, they obviously won’t trade away their first-round selection, which is currently No. 5. Would they deal a high second-round pick? Remember, they don’t have a third rounder because they traded it to Houston this year, to move up for Dart.
It’s hard to imagine a team parting with a top receiver for a fourth rounder, even if it likely will be a high pick (since the Giants stink again).
So that’s the Giants’ situation right now.
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It’s clear their offense doesn’t have much of a chance without Nabers and Skattebo, even as Dart looks like the real deal, despite a lackluster supporting cast. That much was obvious in Sunday’s loss to the 49ers.
OK, so who could the Giants trade for?
One of the top names out there is Miami’s Jaylen Waddle, who will not come cheap. The Dolphins seemingly want an insane haul for him.
These are some of the other notable options: Chris Olave (Saints), Rashid Shaheed (Saints), Brian Thomas (Jaguars), Calvin Ridley (Titans) and Jakobi Meyers (Raiders).
While Waddle is under contract through 2028, Olave’s rookie deal runs through next season, because of his fifth-year option. Shaheed is a pending free agent. Ditto for Meyers. That’s important to note, since the Giants would be making this trade with an eye toward 2026.
The Jaguars just drafted Thomas at No. 23 last year, so he could be under contract through 2028, with his yet-to-be-exercised fifth-year option.
It seems unlikely the Giants would trade for Ridley, who will be 31 when next season begins. But he is under contract through 2027.
As for the ages of those other receivers, Waddle will be 27 when next season begins. Olave will be 26, Shaheed 28, Thomas 23 and Meyers 29.
Clearly, Waddle, Olave and Thomas are the most intriguing young options in that group. Shaheed also is on the younger side, but doesn’t have the same track record. And Meyers and Ridley are older options.
The Giants began this season with Darius Slayton as their No. 2 outside receiver, opposite Nabers. And while Slayton is solid enough, he will turn 29 in January and isn’t exactly a huge difference maker.
This past offseason, hot-seat general manager Joe Schoen gave Slayton what amounts to a two-year, $26 million contract. It looks like a bad deal so far. And because of it, Slayton will stick around next season.
Still, the Giants — regardless of whether Schoen fills the GM seat — must do everything they can to help Dart. Now that they have their potential (likely?) long-term quarterback answer, they need to build around him.
Slayton returning in 2026, if only because of his contract, should have no bearing on whether Schoen deals for a receiver now who would provide an immediate (and future) upgrade at that “other”/non-Nabers spot.
The only question that remains: How much will it cost the Giants?
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