The Giants have a week left before the November 10 trade deadline, and if they decide they want help on the interior of their defensive line, Dalvin Tomlinson is the kind of name that makes sense to at least check on.
This is not a report that New York and the Chargers are working on a deal. It’s more of a practical deadline question: if the Giants are shopping for a veteran run defender, Tomlinson fits the profile, and ESPN’s Bill Barnwell had already floated him as a possibility, as summarized here. The real gatekeeper is Los Angeles, which controls whether Tomlinson is even available and what it would take to pry him loose.
Tomlinson’s case starts with familiarity. He spent four seasons with the Giants, from 2017 through 2020, so New York knows exactly what it would be getting in terms of experience and role.
The Chargers announced his agreement on a one-year deal this offseason after he started all 17 games for Arizona in 2025. For the Giants, that points to a player who could help in a rotational role against the run without dragging them into a long-term commitment.
But the price matters just as much as the fit. If this is a rental on an expiring deal, the Giants should not be paying premium draft capital for him, especially if they’re comfortable sticking with the group they already have. The smarter play would be to ask about a late-round pick and whatever salary remains before deciding whether this is actually an upgrade worth making.
There is at least some room for New York to work with. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Greg Newsome’s extension gives the Giants some cap flexibility ahead of the deadline. That report did not say the Giants are pursuing Tomlinson, and it did not put a number on how much money they have available for a trade.
Health is another factor. Tomlinson dealt with a hamstring issue earlier this season, though the Chargers later removed him from their injury report.
Even so, New York would need current medical information before moving forward. An injury note from earlier in the year is not the same thing as a clean bill of health now.
So the line for the Giants is pretty clear: make the call, but don’t overdo it. If the Chargers want too much for a short-term piece, New York can keep its draft picks and stay with the current rotation. The idea only works if the compensation, availability and medicals all line up.
In Other News...
Giants Final Roster Shuffle Hints At Another Move Coming
The Giants final roster trim created a little more room for maneuvering, and it started with backup quarterback Jake Haener getting cut. The move was part of the teams last round of roster decisions and came with the expectation that Haener will circle back onto the practice squad, keeping him in the organization while the Giants sort through the rest of the depth chart.
The opening also matters because of the injury to Charlie Jones, which leaves New York with a spot it may not be done filling. The Giants have already taken a look at four veterans in Steven Sims, Maurice Alexander, River Cracraft and Wes Pahl, a sign the front office is still weighing options as it tries to settle the roster after the cutdown deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Debate Fans Didn't Expect
The Knicks 2024 deal for Mikal Bridges is the kind of move that tends to linger around a New York sports conversation, especially once it pays off the way it did with a championship in the 2025-26 season. It was a reminder that sometimes the cost of chasing a title is steep, but the payoff can reset an entire franchises ceiling, and that idea is starting to hover over the Giants as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
For a team trying to judge whether it should stay patient or press harder, that kind of precedent matters. The Giants have obvious roster needs and a season that could still be shaped by a bold addition, but the real question is whether they are willing to think like a contender and pay the price before the deadline closes. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Trade Deadline Opening They Cant Ignore
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline creeping closer, the Giants are being pushed toward a decision at a spot where depth has already started to thin. The conversation has centered on whether a veteran back with a proven track record in the right kind of system could help stabilize an offense that has had to lean harder on Devin Singletary than planned.
The appeal is obvious for New York: a physical runner who has already shown he can thrive under John Harbaugh would give the Giants another layer of insurance and a different kind of threat in the backfield. For now, though, it remains only speculation, with no official move or confirmation, which leaves the front office balancing urgency against the cost of making a deal. [Read more 🡒]