The Giants made noise at the trade deadline, but the biggest swing they chased never landed. New York pushed hard for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, only to come up empty when the Colts rejected their offer and kept him off the market.
According to the reporting, the Giants put a package on the table that included a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Indianapolis wasn’t moved by it. The Colts were said to be holding out for a “blockbuster offer,” and once New York’s bid was turned away, the Giants pulled it back and walked away from the talks.
That left Taylor in Indianapolis when the deadline passed at 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
The Giants weren’t alone in calling about Taylor. Tom Pelissero reported that “multiple teams,” including New York, offered second-round picks, but the Colts still chose to keep him. So for now, the Giants are rolling with Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the backfield the rest of the way.
New York’s deadline day ended without a move of any kind. That included no deal for an interior defensive lineman, even though the team had been linked to a bigger splash.
The asking prices around the league were steep, and the market showed it. The Jacksonville Jaguars had to part with a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-rounder to land Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
That doesn’t mean the Taylor pursuit is dead.
The Colts are operating with interim general manager Ed Dodds, and they’ll need to hire a new general manager this offseason before the next league year begins. That could change the conversation entirely. A new decision-maker might view Taylor differently, and the price tag could shift enough for New York’s second- and fifth-round offer to become acceptable.
Taylor’s recent two-year, $44 million contract extension does not begin until next season, which means any team trading for him would be getting more than a short-term rental. The Giants have been chasing a star runner to anchor the offense, and that search has been going on for a while. Before the season, they were linked to Kenneth Walker in free agency and Jeremiyah Love in the draft, but came away without either one.
If they eventually land a back like Taylor, it could change the shape of the offense going into next season and ease some of the burden on quarterback Jaxson Dart.
For now, though, the Giants move on with a roster that has already outperformed expectations and sits at five wins through its first eight games. Standing pat at the deadline wasn’t ideal, but with limited draft capital, it wasn’t a disaster either.
In Other News...
Giants Catch Commanders At A Brutal Time In NFC East Race
The Giants are catching Washington at a particularly messy stretch in the NFC East race, and the conversation around the Commanders has only gotten louder since their Week 5 meeting. Andrew Yorks recent interview dug into the reasons for the slide, from the offenses uneven play to the coaching decisions that have drawn scrutiny, with offensive coordinator David Blough and head coach Dan Quinn both landing in the crosshairs as the Commanders try to steady themselves.
Injuries have only complicated the picture, especially with Terry McLaurin among the key names affected, and the Giants have had their own quarterback changes to sort through as they prepare for the next phase of the season. York also pointed to broader issues like situational awareness and game management, while noting the defense has shown signs of improvement since adding a defensive consultant, a reminder that this division race may turn on more than just one matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Enter A Pivotal Stretch With Two Roster Updates Looming
The Giants have spent the last stretch leaning on flexibility and depth, and it has helped keep them competitive while the coaching staff continues to make strategic adjustments. Rookie Arvell Reese has already shown how valuable that can be by moving around the defense, while veteran D.J. Reader has backed up the eye test with strong play that has stood out in the grades.
Now the bigger roster picture is starting to come into focus with J.J. McCarthy and Cam Skattebo reportedly ready to return. For a team that has had to piece things together on the fly, those two reinforcements could give the Giants a different look at a time when every move matters, even if the exact timing of their comeback still leaves a little to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Trade Deadline Looks Better Thanks To An Unlikely Rookie
When the trade deadline came and went, the Giants decided against spending draft capital on a veteran defensive tackle, choosing instead to see what they already had in-house. That call looked a little more questionable at the time, but sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis has helped change the conversation with a steady rise in playing time and some encouraging recent work against the run.
The bigger picture for the Giants is that the defensive line has started to look more settled, and not just because of one player. Jamison-Travis has been part of a group effort that has improved the teams ability to limit rushing yards, giving the front office at least some evidence that patience may have been the right play while the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]