Giants Must Keep Long View in Mind at NFL Trade Deadline

The New York Giants are sitting atop the NFC East at 4-2-1 heading into their bye week, and based on how the rest of the division looks, they have a real shot of winning this thing.

Of course, the Giants' schedule is about to get much more challenging during the second half, and the jury is largely out on whether or not J.J. McCarthy can hold up under center.

But the Dallas Cowboys are very volatile, and the Philadelphia Eagles are all but done now that Jalen Hurts is sidelined.

That could make it very tempting for New York to try and make a couple of moves before the NFL trade deadline, and it already tried to acquire Jeffery Simmons before the Tennessee Titans dealt him to the Chicago Bears.

The Giants are also in the running for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

Simmons would have been great, but the cost (two first-round draft picks and then some) was far too much. It will also be curious to see exactly how much the Colts are asking for Taylor, who is one of the best halfbacks in football. If New York can nab him for a manageable price, that would also be terrific.

But both Simmons and Taylor have years left on their respective contracts. That's the real kicker.

Should the Giants be as aggressive in attempting to swing trades for players who will essentially be two-month rentals?

That's where John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen need to take the long view.

Yes, New York is improving, and it's exciting. But the Giants are in no way, shape or form Super Bowl contenders just yet. Not even close.

New York is also incredibly thin on draft capital, having already traded its fourth, fifth and seventh-rounders in 2027. The Giants likely do stand to reap a compensatory fourth for losing Wan'Dale Robinson to free agency last March, but it isn't tradeable.

So why part with even more draft choices for a player who might only be with the team for two months? Yes, New York could always re-sign them in free agency, but at that point, why not just wait until the spring and sign them then instead of trading assets for them?

For as exhilarating as Big Blue's campaign has been thus far, we need to keep in mind that that is still technically a rebuilding ballclub. The Giants aren't in a position to be going for broke at the trade deadline. They aren't there yet.

The idea of acquiring some veterans to bolster both sides of the ball is definitely enticing, but it's something New York should generally avoid when it comes to expiring contracts.