The New York Giants confirmed the devastating news of Malik Nabers’ torn ACL on Monday. Nabers had 18 catches for 271 yards with two touchdowns this season, while drawing primary attention from every defense the Giants played this season. The loss is immeasurable.
The Giants’ wide receiver room consists of Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Beaux Collins, and Gunner Olszewski. Hyatt’s been M.I.A. since his rookie season, and it doesn’t appear like the Giants were eager to give him opportunities.
Collins intrigued as a UDFA from Notre Dame during training camp and preseason, but a young, developing player. Olszewski is a veteran special teams asset who played well in the Wan’Dale Robinson role through the preseason.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Dalen Cambre are all on the practice squad. Humphrey may receive a practice squad call-up, for he displayed a rapport with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart through training camp with the second team; Humphrey also projects more as an outside receiver than many of the other Giants currently on the roster.
It’s safe to say the Giants are scouring available free agents and practice squad players. Free agent names like Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor have been tossed around on social media. Trade targets, though, are a bit more complex to acquire, and the Giants are already down a 2026 third-round selection. The injury to Tyreek Hill may force other teams to be active in the wide receiver trade market as well.
New York isn’t exactly in a position to trade future assets away out of desperation, especially with the receiver market inflation caused by the Denver Broncos’ trade of DeVaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints (2026 fourth-round and 2027 seventh-round picks). I also don’t believe Montrell Washington is currently on a practice squad, so he could be a player to bring back into the building. With that in mind, here are three possible trade candidates for the Giants to explore:
Stefon Diggs, Patriots
Head coach Brian Daboll knows Diggs well from their time together in Buffalo, which means Diggs is familiar with the offense. Daboll’s offense is complex to understand, especially without an install period in the middle of the season, so familiarity would lower hurdles. Diggs turns 32 years old in November.
Drake Maye has targeted Diggs 22 times, and the veteran has caught 19 of those passes for 213 yards. Diggs has caught 86.4% of his passes with an 11.2 yards per catch average. His aDot is 8.8 yards, and he’s secured all three of his contested catches this season. His top speed is 18.2 MPH this season.
Diggs has a 56.7% wide snap rate, and his snaps have increased each week (41%, 52%, 53%, 63%). Diggs tore his ACL last October with the Houston Texans. He’s rebounded well so far this season. The Patriots have a lot of young receivers; would they be willing to part ways with their newly-acquired veteran to open up more snap opportunities for their younger players?
If Diggs has anything left in the tank, there’s no doubt he would help the New York Giants’ 11 personnel package, which would confirm the Giants’ true lack of confidence in Hyatt. Diggs’ contract, however, makes this move unlikely. He signed a three-year, $64.5 million contract this offseason. There is an out in the contract after this year where the team could eat $9.7 million; I am uninterested, but desperation does dirty things.
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders
Meyers’ name has been heavily linked to the Giants because Meyers asked to be traded at the start of the season. Meyers has played more than 94% of snaps in each game for the Raiders, and he is currently commanding a 29% target share. He’s caught 21 of 32 targets (65.6%) for 258 yards. He primarily aligns in the slot, with a 64.2% slot rate, but he’s far from just a niche slot receiver.
Meyers is entering the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders. He’s played in complicated offenses before with the New England Patriots. New York could look to possibly resign him — depending on that bag — or could earn a compensatory selection if he departs and the Giants are inactive in free agency next season.
Rashid Shaheed, Saints
Shaheed had a breakout season in 2023 and was on his way to continue that in 2024 before he tore his meniscus. He caught 20 of 40 passes for 349 yards with three scores last year in just six games. The 27-year-old is a deep threat speedster who has flashed more than just that skill set. He’s caught 18 of 25 passes for 174 yards and a score from Spencer Rattler in 2025.
Shaheed has secured a 9.7 yards per catch rate with a 14.2 aDOT, hovering around a 70% snap share in each game this season. The Saints may look to recoup middle-round picks after the Vele trade, and Shaheed is way more affordable than the Diggs, as mentioned above, and even Meyers. Shaheed is entering the final year of his rookie deal with a base salary of $4.2 million.
Practice squad
The Giants are not in a position to be trading assets for veteran wide receivers. I spared the article from mentioning names like Tee Higgins or Chris Olave, as that seems unrealistic. But, to be honest, trading for Diggs would reek of unwise desperation. The Giants, however, could look to peruse opposing practice squads to find hidden gems who would be willing to take a chance on the Giants; New York could also add any of these current practice squad players to their active roster. Here are five names:
Gabe Davis, Bills
Davis is familiar with Brian Daboll and recently returned to the Bills’ practice squad after his time in Jacksonville ended. Davis is only 26 years old and stands at 6-foot-3, ” weighing 225 pounds. His recent time in Jacksonville was abysmal, but that tends to happen in DUVAL. Davis is still young and could be worth a chance to compete with Hyatt and Collins.
A.T. Perry, Broncos
Perry was drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Saints. The 6-3, 205-pounder is now on the Broncos’ practice squad. Perry caught 12 of 18 passes for 246 yards with four touchdowns in 2023 with the Saints. Kellen Moore and his staff did not retain Perry after the firing of Dennis Allen, so the young contested catch receiver joined Sean Payton in Denver. He still possesses significant upside; it might be worth exploring whether he’s interested in joining the Giants’ practice squad for further evaluation.
Theo Wease Jr., Dolphins
Wease Jr. may receive a call-up to the active roster after the injury to Tyreek Hill. If he does not, the 24-year-old could be a target for the Giants’ Pro Scouting Department. Wease Jr. played at Oklahoma and Missouri in college; he’s 6-3, 200 pounds, and caught 10 of 15 passes for 104 yards with two touchdowns in the preseason. He was undrafted this season out of Missouri. While not flashy, he is detail-oriented and a smart player.
Quentin Skinner, Jets
The Giants were up close and personal to Skinner, who caught a touchdown in the preseason against the Giants. He also had a pair of quality practices against the Giants’ second and third team defense. The undrafted 6-5, 200-pound rookie caught my eye at training camp practice. At Kansas, Skinner caught 80 passes for 1,597 yards with 11 touchdowns over three seasons, while dropping just three passes.
Andre Baccellia, Cardinals
The 28-year-old former Washington Huskie was undrafted in 2020 and is 5-10, 175 pounds. He turned heads at his Pro Day when he ran a 4.28 40-yard dash, and he spent time with the Chiefs and Patriots practice squads before latching onto the Cardinals in 2021. His preseason stats are 18 catches on 31 targets for 196 yards and a score since 2021. He caught seven passes for 45 yards in his career (in 2022). He also adds special teams value. Not overly exciting, but one who could add depth.
