The Giants are heading into the weekend with a lot more than just a matchup against Philadelphia on the mind. Around the league, the conversation is already circling back to New York’s roster, its trade deadline options and the way this team is trying to keep its momentum going in a crowded NFC East race.
One of the clearest themes: the Giants are being viewed as buyers, but only if they shop carefully. The Athletic framed it that way, making the point that New York should be shopping from the discount rack rather than chasing a splashy move.
A blockbuster deal for someone like Colts running back Jonathan Taylor would be too costly for a team still building. A smaller move, though - such as sending a sixth-round pick for a veteran defensive tackle to help a porous run defense - would fit a team with a real shot at its first NFC East title since 2011.
Running back keeps coming up as the obvious place to look. Yahoo!
Sports called it the Giants’ biggest need and said landing one is one of the easiest trade-deadline predictions to make. The injuries at the position have piled up, the team appears lukewarm at best on Cam Skattebo, and the division is there for the taking.
Jonathan Taylor is the dream target, but he would not come cheap. Tony Pollard is another possibility, though his recent play could drive the price up.
However it plays out, the Giants are expected to examine every option at running back.
There’s also a broader leaguewide buzz around quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and the Giants are right in the middle of that story.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote about covering Minnesota’s loss in Detroit a week after seeing the Giants beat Houston, and said Vikings people were genuinely happy for McCarthy after his first start as a Giant. Minnesota coaches believed he had matured significantly since the start of the 2026 offseason, using the same word - “maturity” - that Giants coaches have used about him.
Graziano added that the Vikings were glad McCarthy landed in a place where he had a chance to succeed, even if they know it could make them look bad if he keeps playing well for New York and Kyler Murray struggles in Minnesota. Still, everyone involved agreed it was time for a scenery change.
The Record also dug into McCarthy from a different angle, tracing the mindset that shaped him long before he reached the Giants. The piece noted that at a young age, he drew inspiration from elite champions, business leaders and respected icons, and that by the time he arrived at IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year of high school, the idea of becoming a quarterback who reflected those traits had started to feel real.
New York’s surge has also been helped by something less flashy but just as important: depth. The New York Post pointed to the Giants’ overlooked roster strength, noting that injuries have not wrecked their season because the team has enough players to absorb the hits. In a league where starters inevitably go down and backups have to step in, that kind of depth has helped keep the Giants in first place and given the coaching staff more options across the lineup.
There was also a notable update on the contract front. The Record reported that the Giants offered cornerback Deonte Banks an extension that he declined.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan and Giants Nation Show host Bobby Skinner both confirmed the team tried to lock up the 2023 first-round pick before he reaches free agency after the 2026 season. Raanan said, “That looks like that’s going to go to the end of the season and into free agency,” and added, “But they did try to get something done with Deonte Banks, which tells how they feel about him.”
And on the receiving side, Malik Nabers continues to draw elite-level attention. PFF ranked him No. 8 among NFL wide receivers, with no change from the previous week.
Nabers and the Giants were on bye in Week 8, but his recent stretch has been impossible to ignore: four straight 100-yard receiving games, the NFL lead in receiving yards from Weeks 4 through 7, and a season line that has him 12th in PFF receiving grade and ninth in yards per route run. Right now, his recent form is as strong as anyone’s in the league.
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Isaiah Likely Has A Big Eagles Opportunity While Giants Weigh A Change
Isaiah Likelys first outing with J.J. McCarthy under center for the Giants was a quiet one, as he caught two of four targets for 12 yards and didnt get into the end zone. Still, the setup for the next game looks more favorable. New York is favored against the Eagles, and Philadelphias defense has had trouble with slot receivers, which could give Likely a cleaner path to a bigger role if the passing game finds a rhythm.
The wrinkle is that the Giants are also looking at ways to reshape the offense, and that could affect how much they lean on Likely going forward. If the roster changes they are considering come together, the attack could look different in a hurry, leaving his usage in a less certain place even as this matchup offers a chance to build on a slow start. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Could Still Add The One Upgrade This 6-2 Start Demands
The Giants 6-2 start has them sitting atop the NFC East, and it has also put them squarely in the middle of trade-season chatter. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have both connected New York to possible upgrades, with the front office believed to be at least exploring help at defensive tackle and running back as the November 10 deadline approaches.
One name that has surfaced in that conversation is Jonathan Taylor, a reminder that the Giants are not just protecting a good record but trying to see how far it can carry them. They have already checked on other targets and come away empty in some cases, which suggests the search is real, even if the exact move is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Theo Johnson Has A Giants Problem He Cant Ignore
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Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports recently pointed to LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green as a possible future answer if Johnson does not take a clear step forward. Green brings the kind of size, speed and contested-catch ability that can make a passing game more dangerous, though he would still need to sharpen his run-blocking to fit what the Giants want from the position. [Read more 🡒]