The New York Giants are one of the most interesting teams in the NFL as we approach the November 10th trade deadline.
Few people would have predicted it, but the Giants are in sole possession of the NFC East and have a golden opportunity to seize control of the division and host a playoff game for the first time since January 8th, 2012. By all reports, the Giants are eager to take advantage of that opportunity and want to use the trade market to a difference maker to their team before the trade deadline.
Much of the focus has been on the running back position for the Giants, but the team has also been very interested in adding to their defensive line for the stretch run to the playoffs. And now, a new name has emerged as the Giants go big game hunting: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea.
Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports is reporting that the Giants “love” Vea and are willing to be aggressive in trying to pry the star nose tackle out of Tampa.
I don’t believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will move him, but one player I’d keep an eye on is defensive tackle Vita Vea. I know the Giants love him. They were big-game hunting at that position, with John Harbaugh even calling Titans owner Amy Strunk to try and swing a deal for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons before he went to Chicago.
The Giants called Washington about defensive tackle Daron Payne before he got hurt, too. I wouldn’t be shocked if they made an offer for Vea and were willing to deal a first-round pick.
Both John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen courted the Tennessee Titans for Jeffery Simmons, but were rebuffed. The Giants were reportedly in on DeForest Buckner, however the Giants’ ability to trade for Buckner was complicated by the fact that they don’t have a fourth round pick or fifth round pick.
It makes complete sense that the Giants would be enamored with Vea. Despite his age (31), Vea remains one of the top nose tackles in the NFL, and the 6-foot-4, 350-pounder has impressive power and rare movement skills for a man his size. He’s a big reason why the Buccs are 7th in run stop win rate and 8th in pass rush win rate. Even when Vea isn’t making the play himself, his ability to occupy blockers and collapse pockets creates opportunities for his teammates.
But, as Vacchiano states up front, the Buccaneers seem unlikely to move Vea — or any defender — at this point. Tampa has a tough game against the Chicago Bears this week, but they’re only one game out of first place in a sagging NFC South and are on a 2-game win streak.
Daniel Popper is covering the trade market for The Athletic and has removed all of the Buccaneers’ defenders from his Big Board 2.0.
He says:
We also adjusted based on some movement in the standings. Several Tampa Bay Buccaneers were included in the 1.0 board. The Bucs have since won two straight and might be the best team in the NFC South. The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, fell to 2-5.
While the Giants may love to get Vea, they may have to move on to players like Grover Stewart (Indianapolis Colts), Roy Lopez (Arizona Cardinals), Dalvin Tomlinson (Los Angeles Chargers), or perhaps even DE/edge Tuli Tuipulotu (Chargers).
