For a Giants team sitting at 5-2-1, the trade deadline could change the look of the roster in a hurry. New York has been working the market as the Nov. 10 cutoff approaches, with an eye on strengthening its push for divisional supremacy and a home playoff game. If the front office lands help, the roster will need to be trimmed somewhere.
That puts a few familiar names in a shaky spot after the Giants’ road win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Some players may have already taken their final snaps in blue, or at least should be near the exit if upgrades are coming.
Charlie Jones looks like the clearest special-teams casualty. The Giants promoted him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Sept. 29, a move that came alongside the addition of Braxton Berrios. Berrios then suffered a season-ending foot injury in the first game after both were called up, which seemed to open the door for Jones to stick around.
Instead, Jones has mostly handled punts and kickoffs, and the ball security has become a problem. He has fumbled on special teams in two of the last three games.
His muff in Philadelphia didn’t end up hurting New York, but the one against the New Orleans Saints did. He has provided some spark in the third phase, but the turnovers are tough to ignore if they keep piling up.
Tyler Nubin is another name to watch closely. Over the last two games, he has played just one defensive snap.
He had been dealing with a neck issue before the Giants beat the Houston Texans, but he was not on the injury report for the win over the Eagles. Even so, veteran safety Ar’Darius Washington started again in his place, and Jason Pinnock has been the preferred rotational option.
Nubin is 25, was a 2024 second-round pick and is under contract through 2027, which means New York could still get value back if it decides to move on.
Paulson Adebo’s role has also taken a sharp hit. He went from playing every defensive snap against Houston to not seeing a single defensive rep in Philadelphia.
Greg Newsome II’s recent payday appears to have pushed Adebo into the crosshairs. The Giants already have a crowded cornerback group with Deonte Banks, second-round rookie Colton Hood and slot corner Dru Phillips, and it looks like someone has become the odd man out.
Theo Johnson rounds out the list. For a team that uses multiple tight ends as often as New York does, his involvement has been surprisingly limited.
Isaiah Likely has taken over the pass-catching work, while Chris Manhertz and Thomas Fidone II have handled the blocking jobs. Fullback Patrick Ricard, known as "Pancake Pat," is also part of that mix in spirit.
Johnson showed receiving ability in his first two seasons with the Giants, and his frame and athletic profile - 6-foot-6, 264 pounds - suggest more upside. But with Likely in the picture and Manhertz and Fidone getting the dirty work, the Penn State product is being treated as expendable.
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For the Giants, the door has not closed, even if the path has grown narrower. New York remains in the mix as a potential trade partner, but talks have reportedly stalled, which leaves the team hovering over a move that would add a proven playmaker while also testing how far the Colts are willing to bend before time runs out. [Read more 🡒]