Jonathan Taylor is the kind of back who can light up a team’s imagination the second his name comes up in trade chatter. For the Giants, though, the tougher question isn’t whether he’d look good in their offense. It’s whether he’s worth the kind of price that could come with him, especially after New York just stumbled into a running game that actually worked.
The Giants don’t appear to have a confirmed offer on the table for Taylor. NBC Sports passed along reporting from The Athletic that listed New York as a possible landing spot if he becomes available.
Then NBC Sports cited ESPN’s Adam Schefter saying Colts ownership does not want to trade him. That’s a hurdle, not proof that serious talks are already happening.
What the Giants do have is an alternate plan that suddenly looks a lot more real. Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s hamstring injury sent him to injured reserve, though Joe Schoen said it is not expected to end his season. Even with Tracy out, the backfield has options after a productive afternoon in Houston.
Cam Skattebo turned in 124 rushing yards against the Texans, highlighted by a 42-yard run in overtime. Devin Singletary then finished the job with the winning 30-yard touchdown. The Giants also signed Gregory Desrosiers from the Chargers’ practice squad after Tracy landed on IR, and Phil Mafah is still on their practice squad.
None of that changes Taylor’s résumé or the kind of runner he has been in the NFL. It just forces the Giants to ask a very practical question: how much better does he make this roster, and is that improvement worth the trade cost plus the contract?
The Colts have already made deadline moves of their own, trading guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, according to the team. That keeps the door to more action open. It does not, however, mean Taylor is sitting there at a price the Giants should rush to pay.
And the draft-pick piece matters here too. Schoen said the Giants do not currently have a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the upcoming draft, which narrows the range of offers they can realistically build. A star running back can help, but he doesn’t erase the need to protect resources for the rest of the roster.
If the price drops and the Giants decide the upgrade is worth it, then sure, it becomes a conversation. Until then, the smarter move is to see what this current group can do and look for cheaper help rather than turning Tracy’s temporary absence into a reason to chase a blockbuster.
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