It’s fair to say the start of the 2021 NFL season has been far from kind to the New York Giants. Injuries and closes losses have left Big Blue staring at a dismal record of 1-5. Star running back Saquon Barkley is hurt once again, while wide receivers Kenny Golladay and rookie Kadarius Toney have joined him on the mend. Those positions should be front and center for general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge as they plan their strategy ahead of the league’s trade deadline.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Trade Deadline Previews.
The Giants Current Status
Current Record: 1-5
Division Standings: Fourth in NFC East
In the Playoff Picture: No
Buyers or Sellers: Buyers
Current NFL Draft Slot: Fifth Overall
Potential Trade #1: 2022 fifth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Marlon Mack
The Giants need help at running back while Barkley’s nursing an ankle problem. Mack’s an ideal candidate because he doesn’t have a clearly defined role in a crowded rotation with the Indianapolis Colts. Jonathan Taylor is the all-purpose workhorse for Frank Reich’s team, offering a bruising presence between the tackles. The necessary complement is provided by speedster Nyheim Hines, a classic change-of-pace option.
Mack’s problem is that he isn’t really a power runner or a lightning in-the-bottle scat back. He’s just middle of the road, okay at everything, but not great in any one area. That needn’t be a bad thing, though. A back handy in every phase can grow into a featured role in today’s multi-faceted offenses. Mack just needs the right platform for more touches, perhaps why he’s been heavily linked with a trade out of Indy.
He’s still only 25, and the Giants have an extra fifth-round pick going spare, the 156th overall, after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs last year. This deal would be a win-win for both teams and the player.
Potential Trade #2: 2022 fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for Demarcus Robinson and a 2022 seventh-round pick
The Giants are still waiting for Daniel Jones to become a big-time quarterback. It’s a journey that would run a lot smoother if Jones had more weapons at his disposal. Things haven’t gelled with Golladay, while Toney’s ankle injury happened just when he’d started to showcase his explosive skills as a playmaker. Replacing his big-play potential could be done by dealing a fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for Robinson.
He’s never truly nailed down a spot as a consistent target for Patrick Mahomes. Obviously, taking catches away from Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce isn’t easy, but Robinson has also struggled with drops. The issue has limited his playing time amid a rotation that also features Byron Pringle and Mecole Hardman and now involves Josh Gordon.
Robinson can stretch the field, something he proved during Week 6’s 31-13 win over the Washington Football Team. He punished the Giants’ NFC East rivals by hauling in a 24-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. All of Kansas City’s wideouts are burners who can take the top off coverage, turn short catches into huge gains, or be used in the running game. In other words, what the Giants hoped to get from Toney and Golladay. Rolling the dice on Robinson reaching his potential outside of Hill’s shadow is well worth giving up a fourth-round pick.
Potential Trade #3: 2022 third-round pick to the Detroit Lions for Trey Flowers and a 2022 fifth-round pick
The Giants seemingly always need a pass-rusher, and Flowers would be a nice fit for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme. Graham’s unit has registered a mere 10 sacks through six games, and seven of those have come from interior defensive linemen. Flowers briefly worked with Graham when the latter was an assistant with the New England Patriots in 2015, so a reunion would help revive the career of this floundering but flexible edge player.
Flowers hasn’t collected sacks in bunches for the Detroit Lions, logging just 10.5 since joining the team in 2019. It’s hardly a number worthy of the five-year contract worth 90 million dollars the Lions gave to the two-time Super Bowl champion. The Lions aren’t building a cheap knockoff of the New England Patriots anymore. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes are attempting to take the franchise in a new direction, so there probably isn’t room for a former Patriot like Flowers.
Flowers is more disruptive than dominant when rushing the pocket, but his versatility should appeal to the Giants. He can play standup 3-4 outside linebacker, put his hand down as a defensive end, and even slide inside. Offering up a third-round pick may seem a bit rich, but Flowers is still only 28 and suits the Giants’ defense. Big Blue has wasted similarly high picks on disappointing edge-rushers. Think Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines. Flowers is a proven commodity, and the Giants have an extra third-round choice, the 68th overall, from a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Flipping that pick for Flowers and one of the Lions’ two fifth-rounders would be a terrific deal.
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