The New York Giants took a big swing before the 2026 NFL trade deadline, and the target was as bold as it gets.
According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants reached out to the Atlanta Falcons about star running back Bijan Robinson. That came after New York had already been linked to other running back movement, including Jonathan Taylor, who ultimately stayed put with the Colts despite the rumors and his goodbye message. The asking price was too steep for plenty of teams, and the Giants themselves backed away from their multi-pick offer for Taylor.
But that didn’t stop them from exploring another blockbuster.
Robinson is not just any back. He leads the NFL with 880 rushing yards in nine games, and he also has the fifth-most career scrimmage yards before age 25 in NFL history.
Atlanta clearly sees him as a centerpiece, too. The Falcons gave him a three-year extension worth up to $75 million this offseason after he piled up a franchise-record 2,298 scrimmage yards in 2025.
A deal was always going to be a monster. To get Robinson out of Atlanta, the Giants likely would have had to part with every draft pick for the next three years. And with the Falcons still in the mix in the NFC South, the idea of them moving on from their franchise face never looked especially realistic.
So the Giants will move forward with what they have, hoping it’s enough to stay ahead of the Cowboys.
In Other News...
Falcons Fans Will Want To Know How Far This Bijan Pursuit Went
The Giants spent the 2026 NFL trade deadline exploring ways to shake up their roster, but they came away empty-handed after failing to complete any deals. Among the names they reportedly checked on were Jeffery Simmons, Jonathan Taylor and Bijan Robinson, a sign they were at least kicking the tires on a major move before deciding to stand pat.
For Falcons fans, the Robinson mention is the one worth filing away. Atlanta has treated him like a centerpiece since handing him a three-year extension worth up to $75 million this offseason, and the fact that his name surfaced in deadline chatter only underscores how much league-wide interest there is in the running back. For now, the Giants will keep moving forward with Cam Skattebo in the backfield, while the Falcons can at least take note of how far the pursuit apparently went. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Just Changed Their Offensive Line Plan In A Big Way
The Falcons have altered the middle of their offensive line in a notable way, moving on from Ryan Neuzil after he spent the past two seasons as their full-time starting center. In return, Atlanta added guard Andrew Vorhees, a player who has already logged 22 starts for Baltimore since entering the league in 2023, along with a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
The deal leaves a clear opening at center, and Corey Levin now appears to be in line for the first real chance to step into that role. For a line that has been trying to settle itself, this is a significant shift in the plan, with Atlanta betting on a different mix up front as it reshapes the interior around Vorhees and whatever comes next at center. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Deadline Sell-Off Raises A Bigger Michael Penix Jr. Concern
The Falcons deadline activity sent a clear signal that went beyond the usual roster churn. Even with the team sitting close to first place in the division, Atlanta moved safety Jessie Bates III to Jacksonville for future draft capital and also dealt Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore, a pair of transactions that suggested the front office was looking past the immediate standings and thinking more about what comes next.
For a team that still had a real path in the division, the timing naturally invites a bigger question about how Atlanta views Michael Penix Jr. and the direction of the roster around him. Selling off established pieces while the season is still very much alive does not fit the profile of a club fully convinced it is ready to push all in, and that tension now hangs over the Falcons as much as any depth-chart decision. [Read more 🡒]