Plan A for the New York Giants to upgrade at running back remains a mega-deal for Jonathan Taylor. Plan B, if there is a real Plan B, won’t be Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens.
Per Adam Schefter, the Ravens have “informed Henry that they have no intention of trading him” to his former coach John Harbaugh and the Giants, or anywhere else.
The understandable logic behind that, from a Ravens point of view, is that the Ravens are not a) giving up on this season, or b) giving up on the idea that they
can retain star quarterback Lamar Jackson long term.
Peter Schrager of ESPN added this on ‘GetUp’, per Pro Football and Sports Network:
“I don’t see it,” said Schrager. “My sense is this, talking to Baltimore’s sources: they have 12 draft picks in the upcoming draft, so draft capital doesn’t really do anything right now. They also play the Chargers, Panthers, Texans, Bucs the next four weeks. Those are winnable games. And they just traded for a quarterback; they traded for Cam Jurgens.”
“They’re not already in this selloff, fire sale mode. They are not Tennessee, they are not Indianapolis. That said, if there are calls about some other players they would probably be listening to some. I’m talking about guys who might’ve put themselves as veterans on the trade market themselves by the way that they’ve been performing in recent weeks.”
Justice Hill?
Schefter mentioned in his report that the Giants had asked the Ravens about the availability of veteran running back Justice Hill.
Hill was a 2019 fourth-round draft pick by the Ravens and has spent his entire career with Baltimore, so Harbaugh knows him well.
The confusing thing about interest in the 28-year-old Hill is that in seven seasons he has never carried the ball more than 84 times, and has just 301 carries for his career. There is nothing on his resume to suggest he is better than Tyrone Tracy or Devin Singletary. Unless the Giants are concerned about the hamstring injuries Tryone Tracy (currently on IR) and Cam Skattebo (doubtful vs. the Eagles) are dealing with and see Hill as an emergency fill-in, I’m not sure what he adds to the backfield.
Latest on Jonathan Taylor
The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones believes that the Giants and Minnesota Vikings are the favorites to convince the Indianapolis Colts to trade their star running back. Jones said he was told the Colts have already rejected an offer of a second- and fifth-round pick.
NFL.com also listed the Giants as one of the most likely landing spots for Taylor, and I believe the reasoning they offered is spot on:
A splash move at the deadline could go a long way to ensuring the Giants keep their division lead into January — and provide them a chance to pull off a postseason upset.
I believe that the Giants, with the investment they made in Harbaugh, would love to justify it with an NFC East title in Harbaugh’s first season. I also think they believe it would help set them up for the future, a future they believe Taylor can be part of for a couple of seasons.
In regards’ to Jones’ reporting that the Colts rejected a second- and fifth-round pick, what if the Giants made this offer:
A 2027 second-round pick, a 2028 fifth-round pick, and Tracy. If you are bringing in Taylor, and you have Skattebo, you don’t really have carries for Tracy. Why not include him in your offer in an effort to hold on to some of your draft capital?
Vita Vea too pricey?
We wrote Friday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle Vita Vea was reportedly on the Giants’ radar. Jones writes:
Vea signed a one-year, $30 million contract extension in August after protracted negotiations. It would be unusual for the team to deal him less than three months later, even if he has a low base salary in 2026 that can fit under anyone’s cap.
In the NFC South, furthermore, you’re always in it. The Bucs are a half-game behind Carolina for the division lead, and they hold the early tiebreakers over Carolina and Atlanta. A 3-5 record in Tampa looks radically different from a 3-5 record in Arizona.
I don’t think Tampa Bay would turn down a first-round pick for Vea, but I also don’t think any team is going to offer one for a 31-year-old with one season left on his deal.
Vea would help the Giants, but he also appears to be in decline:
Giving up a first-round pick would seem like a massive overpayment.
