The New York Giants head into their Week 8 bye with a 4-2-1 record and the top spot in the NFC East. Despite their early-season success, the roster still has areas that could use improvement. With the NFL Trade Deadline approaching on November 10, here are three players the Giants could trade for.
No. 1: Jonathan Taylor, Running Back- Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are currently 2-5 and have already begun reshaping their roster ahead of the NFL trade deadline. They just traded Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. Indy also sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to his old team, the 49ers. Could Jonathan Taylor be next? The 27-year-old running back has been one of the best at his position since entering the league.
Taylor has rushed for over 1,000 yards in four of his seven seasons. In 2025, he had over 1,500 yards and led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns. Despite the Colts’ struggles as a team this year, Taylor has continued to produce. He has 587 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in seven games. Meanwhile, the Giants have questions in their own backfield. Cam Skattebo is coming off a 100-yard performance, but ball security has been a concern.
Skattebo has fumbled four times in five games, including a costly one against Washington that had him benched the following game. Behind him, New York lacks depth in the backfield. Tyrone Tracy was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The only other notable back on the roster is Devin Singletary, who did score the game-winning touchdown last week. Adding an established playmaker like Taylor would give the Giants another dynamic option.
Head coach John Harbaugh wanted to add a top running back this offseason. New York was interested in signing Kenneth Walker III before he went to the Chiefs. They might also have drafted Jeremiyah Love if he were available with the fifth pick. Now is Harbaugh’s chance to land the top-tier running back he’s been looking for. Trading for Taylor won’t come cheap, though.
The reported asking price is a second-round pick and “possibly more,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. With the Giants sitting atop a wide-open NFC East, making an aggressive move could help them strengthen their playoff chances. Taylor would bring elite production and another major weapon to New York’s offense, but the Giants would need to decide whether his potential impact is worth the draft capital required to land him.
No. 2: Brian Thomas Jr., Wide Receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
After his rookie season in 2024, Brian Thomas Jr. looked like the next great wide receiver to come out of LSU. He caught 87 passes for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. He set Jaguars rookie franchise records in all three categories. However, Thomas has struggled to replicate that success. In 2025, his yards went down to 707 in 14 games, and he scored just two touchdowns. He also had 10 drops, among the most in the NFL.
This season hasn’t been much better for the former first-round pick. Through the first seven weeks of this season, Thomas has recorded just nine receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown. In their last game, he was benched in the second half after dropping a pass early and played only 15 snaps. The once-promising rookie has fallen down Jacksonville’s depth chart behind Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and even 2026 sixth-round pick Josh Cameron. Now there are serious questions about his future with the team.
With all the talented pass catchers the Jaguars now have, they could decide to move on from Thomas. He already has a connection with the Giants, having played with Malik Nabers at LSU. Nabers has had a strong season so far, recording over 100 receiving yards in his last four games. Besides him, though, the other receivers have not produced.
Third-round rookie Malachi Fields had a career-high 83 yards in Week 7, but has yet to establish himself as a consistent contributor. Free agent signing Darnell Mooney has also struggled, with just nine catches for 113 yards. Big Blue currently has just four healthy receivers on the roster. Therefore, it would make sense to add another receiving weapon to their offense. Thomas hasn’t worked out in Jacksonville, but perhaps he just needs a change of scenery. Reuniting with his old college teammate could be what he needs to rediscover the form he displayed as a rookie.
The potential cost of acquiring Thomas is another important consideration. Houston recently traded a second- and seventh-round pick to Arizona for fellow 2024 first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. That transaction could help evaluate Thomas’ trade value, although the two situations aren’t identical. If Jacksonville decides to move on from Thomas, the Giants could offer similar compensation to acquire him.
For New York, acquiring Thomas would be a gamble on a talented young receiver whose career has stalled. However, his rookie production suggests he still has considerable potential. If the Giants believe they can help him regain his confidence and consistency, he could become a valuable complement to Nabers and give their passing game another dangerous weapon.
No. 3: Khalil Mack, Defensive End, Los Angeles Chargers
The Giants’ defense has improved this season, but the team could still strengthen its pass rush. Big Blue has just nine sacks in seven games, the fourth-lowest mark in the league. With Brian Burns out for the season, second-year pass rusher Abdul Carter has emerged as one of the Giants’ most impactful defensive linemen. Although Carter has recorded just two sacks, his overall performance suggests he has made a much bigger impact than the numbers indicate.
Carter’s 87.9 overall Pro Football Focus(PFF) grade ranks third among all edge rushers. His 86.1 pass-rush grade ranks fourth, and he has recorded 21 pressures. Even though the sack numbers aren’t high, the young defender has been in the backfield constantly and has put stress on opposing quarterbacks. New York’s other starter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, hasn’t had the same success in 2026.
Thibodeaux does not have a sack in seven games this season. A former fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he has not lived up to that selection. 2023 was the only season Thibodeaux has had double-digit sacks through his first five years. He had 11.5 that season, and his next-highest mark is 5.5 sacks. With limited production from Thibodeaux and a need for more consistent pressure, the Giants could benefit from adding another proven pass rusher.
The Chargers have had a disastrous season this year. They are 0-6 and the only team in the NFL without a win. If the Chargers decide to prioritize their future before the trade deadline, they could consider moving veteran defensive end Khalil Mack. Mack has been in the league for 13 years and has had an outstanding career. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year.
At 35, Mack isn’t the game-wrecker he used to be, but he could still bring valuable experience to the defensive line. The veteran does have three sacks and six quarterback hits in six games this season. The projected cost in a trade is a fourth- or fifth-round pick, making him a relatively affordable option for a Giants team looking to strengthen its pass rush.
Mack is scheduled to become a free agent in 2027, making this a potential short-term investment for New York. With the Giants in position to compete for a playoff spot, adding a proven veteran could bolster their defensive rotation and take some pressure off Abdul Carter. If the Chargers are willing to part with Mack for a mid-round draft pick, the Giants should seriously consider making a move.
