The Giants enter their bye week at 4-2-1, sitting atop a weakened NFC East and staring down a trade deadline that arrives on Nov. 10. That puts them in a tricky spot: chase help for a playoff push, or protect the future while trying not to overpay for short-term fixes.
That tension is real. For John Harbaugh, a postseason berth in his first season as Giants head coach would be a strong finish. But it gets a lot less appealing if the cost is premium draft capital for players who won’t matter beyond this year.
So the Giants have to be careful. Defensive line help makes sense.
Wide receiver could be in play. Running back might be an option.
Even edge or linebacker depth could be on the table because of injuries.
One area that stands out is defensive tackle depth, where the Giants could use a steadier veteran behind D.J. Reader.
Reader has given the Giants quality run defense, but the rest of the rotation has been uneven. Shelby Harris, 35, has flashed in a couple games and disappeared in others.
Darius Alexander has looked better against the run over the last few weeks, though he’s still developing. Rookie sixth-rounder Bobby Jamison-Travis had a good Sunday against the Houston Texans after struggling in his debut against the New Orleans Saints.
C.J. Okoye, meanwhile, has not impressed.
That opens the door for a familiar name: Dalvin Tomlinson.
A 2017 second-round pick by the Giants, Tomlinson is now with the Los Angeles Chargers on a one-year, $6.2 contract. The Chargers are 0-6 and headed nowhere, which could make them open to moving a 32-year-old player who doesn’t factor much into their long-term plans. Jim Harbaugh’s team may also be willing to shed some salary.
ESPN floated a deal that would amount to little more than a future late-round pick swap:
Giants get: DT Dalvin Tomlinson, 2028 seventh-round pick
Chargers get: 2028 sixth-round pick
If that’s the price, it’s the kind of low-risk move that could give the Giants a little more stability without draining future assets.
The financial piece is manageable, too. According to the Spotrac trade machine, an acquiring team would only be responsible for $1.97 million of Tomlinson’s $2.69 million base salary.
There’s a reason to be cautious, though. Tomlinson is not the same run stuffer he was during his four seasons with the Giants early in his career. Last season, he posted a rough 37.3 Pro Football Focus run defense grade, though he has improved this year to a slightly-above-average 64.9.
A chart from Pro Football and Sports Network’s Impact Score system tells a similar story about the decline. Its average baseline is 75.0, and Tomlinson has not reached that level in recent seasons.
Still, the Giants are looking for answers on the interior, and Tomlinson could offer more in limited snaps than someone like Okoye. A chance to join a team in the middle of a playoff race might also give him a boost.
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Giants Fans Have A New Reason To Trust Their Right Tackle
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It also fit the confidence he has been carrying with him. Eluemunor has said publicly that he believes he is the best right tackle in the NFL, and on Sunday he backed up the belief with a performance that should only strengthen the Giants' trust in him. For a team that has needed better play up front, his return adds another reason to think the line may be settling in. [Read more 🡒]