The Giants went into the trade market looking for help at running back and defensive tackle, and A’Shawn Robinson had the kind of profile that made sense on paper. He knows the organization, he spent 2023 in East Rutherford, and Tampa Bay had looked like a team that might be willing to deal after a brutal 0-4 start to 2026.
That picture has changed fast.
The Buccaneers have won three of their last four, including back-to-back convincing wins over division opponents, and they’re now just half a game out in the NFC South. What once looked like a possible sell-off has turned into something much murkier. Tampa Bay may still go in either direction before the deadline, but the Giants can probably stop circling Robinson as a realistic target.
Robinson has been a useful rotational piece for a Buccaneers defense that leads the league in defensive expected points added per play this season. Through eight games, he has 22 tackles, one tackle for loss, three pass deflections, two interceptions, two quarterback hits and a sack. His 83.3 overall Pro Football Focus grade ranks third among 139 qualified interior defenders.
For the Giants, the appeal was obvious. Robinson would not cost much, he’s experienced, and he brings the kind of size and force that plays in the trenches.
At 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, he offers power, physicality and a relentless motor. He also has a reputation as a strong locker-room presence, something he’s carried with him since college.
The fit was even more natural because of his connection to general manager Joe Schoen. Around the league, front offices love to reconnect with familiar faces, and this one had the feel of a move that could happen without much drama. But Tampa Bay’s surge has complicated everything.
Robinson, 31, was viewed as a cap casualty this offseason after two years with the Carolina Panthers. Carolina let him explore a trade before releasing him, and he signed a nearly fully guaranteed deal with the Buccaneers about 24 hours later.
Now that reunion appears unlikely, the Giants have to look elsewhere.
One possibility mentioned is Tennessee Titans star Jeffery Simmons, though New York head coach John Harbaugh reportedly contacted Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly about his availability before the Chicago Bears stepped in. The Giants were also in the mix for Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne before he suffered a Jones fracture.
Robinson had already slipped to Plan C. With him likely off the board, New York may need to pivot again.
Other names remain in play, including former Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, who is on an expiring contract with the 0-7 Los Angeles Chargers and is not part of their long-term picture. There’s also Grover Stewart, Jonathan Taylor’s teammate, who could be available amid Indianapolis’ ongoing fire sale.
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