Giants trade deadline preview: 6 WRs who could make Jaxson Dart’s life easier – The New York Times

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Will the Raiders make wide receiver Jakobi Meyers available for trade ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline? Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
The last time the New York Giants had promise at the trade deadline, general manager Joe Schoen exercised restraint.
The Giants were a surprising 6-2 at the 2022 deadline and there was an obvious need for an upgrade at wide receiver. But Schoen kept the big picture in mind and didn’t sacrifice any draft picks for a band-aid. In fact, the Giants’ lone move at the 2022 deadline was to trade away wide receiver Kadarius Toney to the Chiefs for third- and sixth-round picks.
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The Giants are just 2-4, so they shouldn’t be looking at a trade as a pathway to becoming a contender this season. Still, this regime needs results in Year 4. And with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart impressing in his three starts, and No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers out for the season with a torn ACL, there’s a case to be made for adding a receiver before the Nov. 4 trade deadline.
“I think they’re going to feel like they have to show promise,” said an executive from another team, who was granted anonymity so he could speak openly about the Giants. “I would think you’re going to want to find a balance, and you can always fall back on the thought process of, ‘Hey, for Jaxson Dart’s development, we wanted to give him another viable pass catcher on the perimeter.’”
There are obstacles to making a trade beyond the questionable decision for a rebuilding team to part ways with draft capital. The Giants dealt their 2026 third-round pick to move up for Dart in this year’s draft, so their war chest is already depleted. They have their own picks in the first, second, fourth and fifth rounds, plus three sixth-round picks and no seventh-rounder in 2026.
That surplus of Day 3 picks could be wielded to land a receiver. But the other challenge with adding a receiver midseason is that it’s not a position that always lends to immediate success. The complexity of coach Brian Daboll’s offense has been emphasized by countless players throughout his tenure.
“My issue with wide receiver is it’s a hard position to come in and make a midseason impact,” the executive said. “So, you probably want somebody that’s under contract next season. Outside of the quarterback, it’s maybe the second hardest position to just come in and adjust to a new system and a new quarterback from a timing perspective.”
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That may narrow the field of prospective trade targets. Also, the Giants may be more interested in receivers signed beyond this season, so there’s upside beyond a potentially difficult midseason introduction to the offense.
The good news for Giants fans hoping Schoen pulls the trigger on a trade is that there are some receivers with ties to Daboll who could be available. Those players are among six receivers The Athletic examined as potential targets with the trade value based on the executive’s input (2025 cap hit is for the Giants if acquired next week):
Age: 25
2025 stats: 39 catches, 342 yards, 1 TD
2025 cap hit: $916,630
Contract status: Signed through 2026
Projected trade value: Third-round pick
Olave has no ties to Daboll, but he’s the top wide receiver widely rumored to be available. Olave would be a perfect fit, since he could be a serviceable No. 1 receiver for the rest of this season and then slot in as a quality No. 2 option when Nabers returns next season.
A 2022 first-round pick, Olave’s fully guaranteed $15.5 million fifth-year option for 2026 was picked up by the Saints in April. That salary would make him a bargain next year, although he’d likely be looking for an extension after this season, especially if a team trades for him.
Giving up assets and making a long-term commitment to Olave is dicey considering his concussion history. Olave missed the final eight games of last season after suffering his second concussion in a month.
The Saints, whose lone win came against the Giants in Week 5, figure to be receptive to trade calls. But they likely aren’t going to just give away a 25-year-old receiver who topped 1,000 yards in his first two seasons.
The executive pegged a third-round pick as the floor for an offer, with the Saints potentially seeking additional compensation. The Giants would need to get creative to swing a deal since they don’t have their 2026 third-round pick.
Age: 30
2025 stats: 16 catches, 290 yards, 0 TD
2025 cap hit: $14.1M
Contract status: Signed through 2027
Projected trade value: Fourth-round pick
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Ridley was a junior at Alabama during Daboll’s one season as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 2017. They developed a bond that could ease the transition if the Giants trade for the seventh-year veteran.
The Titans fired coach Brian Callahan this week, so they could soon be in a full teardown. Ridley was signed by former general manager Ran Carthon, so the new regime could be looking to dump an inherited big salary. But the Titans would have to weigh the impact on their own rookie quarterback’s development if they remove their No. 1 receiver.
The Giants would inherit $14.1 million on their cap this year if they trade for Ridley, which could be prohibitive considering their limited cap space. The Giants could restructure contracts to make it work, but that would be a huge salary to absorb.
Ridley’s contract contains just $3 million guaranteed for next season, but the Giants wouldn’t take on so much salary this year for a rental. Ridley would have a $21.8 million cap hit in 2026 (and $22.3 million in 2027), which would be a sizable investment for a receiver in his 30s.
Age: 26
2025 stats: 20 catches, 240 yards, 0 TD
2025 cap hit: $916,630
Contract status: Signed through 2027
Projected trade value: Fifth-round pick
Jeudy was a freshman during Daboll’s lone season at Alabama. The Giants were reported to have interest in Jeudy at the 2022 trade deadline, but they resisted making the splashy move. Jeudy was eventually traded to the Browns during the 2024 offseason for fifth- and sixth-round picks. He immediately signed a three-year, $52.5 million extension with the Browns.
Jeudy has never lived up to his billing as the No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft, but he flourished last season with Jameis Winston slinging the ball downfield. A frustrating second season in Cleveland plagued by a league-high five drops has made it clear why a player as talented as Jeudy constantly finds himself on the trade block.
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Jeudy would be cheap this year due to the convoluted contract structure Browns GM Andrew Berry brought with him from Philadelphia. It appears Jeudy would only cost an acquiring team $6 million in 2026, then the team could move on before he’s due $17 million in 2027.
The contract structure would make trading Jeudy this early in his contract a mess for the Browns’ cap, but they’re accustomed to creative accounting. Beyond the financial implications, the Browns are in a similar position to the Giants with a rookie quarterback and a regime that needs to show results. That could make a Jeudy trade unlikely unless the Giants are willing to overpay.
Age: 28
2025 stats: 29 catches, 329 yards, 0 TD
2025 cap hit: $6.6M
Contract status: Impending free agent
Projected trade value: Fifth-round pick
The Raiders denied Meyers’ trade request before the season. They may reconsider after an ugly 2-4 start.
Meyers is in the final year of the three-year, $33 million contract he signed in 2023. That makes him a strict rental for the final 11 weeks of the season, which would lower his trade value. The executive said a fifth- or sixth-round pick should be enough to land Meyers.
Meyers has been consistent and reliable, lacking the warts of some of the other receivers on the trade market. He’d be the best fit among this group as a prospective No. 2 option when Nabers returns, but the Giants would need to spend to re-sign Meyers, who made the trade request due to unhappiness with his contract.
Age: 25
2025 stats: 18 catches, 235 yards, 4 TDs
2025 cap hit: $2.1M
Contract status: Impending free agent
Projected trade value: Fifth-round pick
The Packers are a Super Bowl contender with a deep, young wide receiver corps. They could easily ride it out with this group. But if they don’t plan to pay Doubs and want to recoup some value for their only receiver set to hit free agency, they could trade him.
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There would be a buyer beware warning attached if a talented, young receiver like Doubs becomes available. Doubs was suspended by the Packers for a game last season after skipping practices due to unhappiness with his role.
Like Meyers, Doubs’ status as a rental would reduce his trade value to a fifth- or sixth-round pick, according to the executive. The Packers’ status as contenders could make a player-for-player trade more attractive. Giants cornerback Deonte Banks could be an option if the Packers have interest in the 2023 first-round pick, who has fallen out of favor in New York. Banks and a late-round pick could entice the Packers.
Age: 25
2025 stats: 4 catches, 18 yards, 0 TD
2025 cap hit: $1.1M
Contract status: Impending free agent
Projected trade value: Day 3 pick swap
The Eagles acquired Metchie and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Texans for tight end Harrison Bryant and a 2026 fifth-round pick during training camp. Metchie has been a non-factor in Philadelphia, so another trade can’t be ruled out for wheeling-and-dealing Eagles GM Howie Roseman.
Metchie didn’t overlap with Daboll at Alabama, but Daboll still leans on the endorsements of former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban. So, perhaps the Giants could roll the dice on the 2022 second-round pick, who is cheap for the rest of this season and will be a restricted free agent in the offseason.
Intra-division trades have become more common, so it’s possible the Giants and Eagles could come to an agreement on a package similar to the Philadelphia-Houston deal from two months ago. The Eagles have a glaring hole at their No. 2 cornerback spot, so the Giants could send Banks to their rivals (after their Week 8 rematch?).
The Giants are in an interesting spot. At 2-4, conventional wisdom says they should be sellers. But they finally have unearthed some optimism, so it would be shocking if they dealt away an impact player like outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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Sure, the Giants would be open to dealing a spare part like quarterback Russell Wilson, running back Devin Singletary or offensive lineman Evan Neal. But interest in those players figures to be non-existent. Banks is the one intriguing trade chip if Schoen is willing to cut his losses with a first-round pick before he’s sapped of all his value.
So, what will the Giants do between now and the trade deadline? Nabers was lost for the season over two weeks ago, and the Giants still haven’t added a wide receiver to the roster.
Yes, Lil’Jordan Humphrey was a solid contributor as a practice squad elevation in the Giants’ 34-17 win over the Eagles in Week 6. But this wide receiver corps is sorely lacking without Nabers.
Schoen was patient at the deadline in Year 1. It will be challenging to show as much restraint in Year 4 with a promising rookie quarterback.
A huge swing for a receiver like Olave seems unlikely. But it would be a surprise if Schoen doesn’t make any addition at receiver. That could be a Day 3 pick for a rental like Meyers or a player-for-player swap for a receiver like Metchie.
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Dan Duggan is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the New York Giants. He previously covered the Giants for two years for The Star-Ledger. He has also worked for the Boston Herald. Follow Dan on Twitter @DDuggan21

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