The New York Giants tried to make a splash at the NFL trade deadline. They ended up not able to do anything.
Running back Jonathan Taylor was, of course, the player the Giants had targeted as a difference-maker for their offense — for this season and at least a couple of years to come. The Indianapolis Colts, though, chose to set a price tag no one, including the Giants, was willing to meet.
Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero:
Multiple teams offered a second-round pick and more for Taylor. But the Colts
wanted a blockbuster offer to even consider it. Instead, Taylor stays in Indy.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh said an hour before the deadline that he would be excited to have the “right player” join the team as it tries to win its first NFC East title since 2011.
“My excitement level would be based on who the player is,” Harbaugh said. “You get the right player, then you’re really excited.”
Taylor could have been that guy. The price, though, was wrong.
On Monday, I asked Harbaugh about the idea of trying not to make an emotional decision at the trade deadline with the excitement of defeating the Philadelphia Eagles and leading the division being fresh.
Harbaugh said it was “very important” to take the emotion of the moment out of the decision-making process.
“You want to do everything you can do to make your team as strong as you can right now, 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,” Harbaugh said. “I think we just have to look at each situation, and just weigh it out in terms of, okay, what’s the cost? 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?”
Taylor would have made the Giants stronger right now. The Giants, though, were correct to not overpay for a 27-year-old running back with high mileage. Just like they were correct a couple of years ago when they did not overpay in free agency for a 27-year-old running back with high mileage.
In the days leading up to the deadline, we watched the Jacksonville Jaguars make multiple trades — including outrageously giving the Philadelphia Eagles first- and second-round picks for defensive tackle Jordan Davis. We saw the Minnesota Vikings trade for quarterback Kirk Cousins. We saw the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs make “now” trades.
All of those teams have designs on winning a Super Bowl this season.
The Giants? They are not there yet. Winning the NFC East would be a massive accomplishment. Remember, they won seven games combined the last two seasons. It would be a tremendous step in the right direction for a proud franchise that has been down for most of the last 15 years.
I went on record a few days ago saying that I thought the Giants should make another run at Taylor, but that the price couldn’t be more than the second-round pick plus that they had already offered.
Not giving away their first-round pick was the proper decision. In Harbaugh’s words, the prudent one.
The Tennessee Titans did not want to trade running back Tony Pollard. He is a nice player, but Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy are nice players, too.
The Giants could have used defensive tackle help. They were never getting Jeffery Simmons, and they weren’t foolish enough to give up a first-round pick for Davis. The Colts apparently wanted a fourth-round pick for Grover Stewart. The Giants didn’t have one to give. They do have Malachi Fields. They didn’t have a fifth-round pick. They do have J.J. McCarthy.
Harbaugh had warned on Sunday that the Giants would protect their future.
“We’re not just going to go for a short term fix at an exorbitant cost,” he said. “We’re not going to do that. That’s not where we’re at.”
Where they are at is leading the NFC East by 2.5 games. They have a 68.9% chance of winning the division, moves or no moves.
Getting Taylor, or another big-time difference-maker at the deadline would have been nice.
In the end, though, I think fans should be happy that Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen kep their wits about them and protected the future.
The deadline end up to be boring for the Giants. Disappointing even, if you want to call it that. But, the Giants acted properly rather than desperately.
That was a victory of sorts by itself.
