Jaguars go all-in with three trades as Giants seek deadline deal
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK — John Harbaugh left little doubt on Monday that the New York Giants intend to acquire at least one player if not more before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline.
“The now weighs more important than the future, if you’re gonna put it on a scale,” Harbaugh said. “And you go from there.”
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But the first-place Giants (5-2-1) have competition as they try to push their chips into the middle of the table for a playoff run.
The Jacksonville Jaguars swung for the fences on Monday and acquired Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux in three separate trades.
Jags GM James Gladstone shipped a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to Philly for Davis. He gave up a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 5th-round pick to the Falcons for Bates. And he sent a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Saints for Godchaux.
The Detroit Lions also acquired Jets safety Andre Cisco to the Lions for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
Jacksonville’s flurry of spending stands out especially because it signals a run on trades for defensive tackles. The Chicago Bears acquired star tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Titans 12 days ago in a trade, sending two first-round picks and a 2027 fourth rounder to Tennessee for Simmons and a 2028 Titans fifth.
That’s interesting because defensive tackle is one of the Giants’ priority positions at the deadline.
Harbaugh is bullish on capitalizing with the Giants atop the NFC East as they prepare to host the Washington Commanders (2-5-1) on Thursday Night Football at MetLife Stadium.
Defensive tackle and running back are the two positions of need because the Giants have traded a premier player (Dexter Lawrence) or let one walk (Saquon Barkley) at both positions in the past few years.
Harbaugh is running the personnel department now, and although he’d prefer not to mortgage the future entirely, he understands that opportunities like this year’s are not guaranteed to repeat themselves. In fact, they’re rare.
So it’s time to take action if they can agree on a price with one of the other 31 teams.
“You want to do everything you can do to make your team as strong as you can right now,” Harbaugh said. “Because we’re in the now, and we’re told to live in the moment, be where our feet are planted, concern ourselves with today. But that’s not at the expense of tomorrow or just prudent planning.
“I think we just have to look at each situation, and just weigh it out in terms of, OK, what’s the cost?” he continued. “What’s the benefit? And is it worth it? Is it going to benefit us? Is it a good thing for the Giants, and for the organization, and the team?”
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor remains the biggest available offensive playmaker on the trade market, but an ESPN report said Monday that the Giants’ initial offer two weeks ago included a 2027 second-round pick, a 2028 fifth-round pick and a player on the Giants’ roster.
The Colts turned it down.
The question now is whether the Giants will sweeten their offer, although dealing a first-round pick for a running back would be alarming — especially considering the Giants’ recent history of undervaluing the position.
There are also other teams like the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos who represent competition for Taylor.
Ravens running back Derrick Henry would be a great fit, but lowly Baltimore for some reason keeps telling teams calling that he’s not available.
At defensive tackle, the New England Patriots’ Christian Barmore is an intriguing player, but he is already signed through 2029, so that deal wouldn’t be cheap. The Colts’ Grover Stewart, 33, or the Chargers’ Dalvin Tomlinson, 32, a former Giants draft pick, would be more affordable rentals.
Harbaugh would prefer to add a player that can help him both now and long-term if he’s able, though. That’s why he’s trying to swing big.
Monday presented a great example of why it’s important for the Giants to try to go for the NFC East title and more now.
Howie Roseman’s Eagles (2-7) are having a terrible season, but he has now accumulated five first-round picks and five second-round picks across the next three NFL drafts. So Philadelphia will restock its roster and be back.
Harbaugh did say he doesn’t expect any player he acquires to be able to play Thursday night against Washington.
“I would say, just honestly, we’re probably not looking at anything for this game,” he said. “It would be hard to say. I don’t know. Maybe we could bring a guy in. He could just practice Wednesday and play, but it would be kind of hard to imagine a guy coming in and just playing with one day here, I think. So I’d probably assume that wouldn’t be possible.”
Harbaugh also said Thursday’s game is a factor to consider if the Giants end up trading a player away.
“Probably there is some thought as far as trading away players, too, for that very reason,” he said. “You’d have to say, okay, are we going to be okay in this next game? And I don’t think you’d trade a player away if you didn’t feel like you could be all right.”
Whichever players the Giants acquire will have a longer week to learn some of the playbook to get ready for the Giants’ next game after Thursday:
A Week 11 visit on Nov. 22 from — guess who? — the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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