New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has already proven himself to be a man unafraid to pull the trigger on a trade, whether that means sending a player elsewhere or bringing one in.
Gettleman is a wheeler and dealer, which is a rarity in today’s NFL, but for that very reason alone, Giants fans should expect a little more of that this offseason.
However, Gettleman earned mixed reviews for some of his trades in 2018, which also means there’s a potential for some poor trade scenarios to develop. So with that in mind, here’s a look at three awful trades the Giants might consider.
Trading Odell Beckham Jr. anywhere
Gettleman has already stated publicly that Beckham is not on the trading block, but speculation has persisted in the face of that anyway.
In recent days, the trade rumors surrounding Beckham have swirled into an uncontrollable twister which OBJ himself has apparently replied to. However, the reality is that the Giants find themselves in a position where Beckham is almost untradeable anyway.
If the Giants were to deal Beckham prior to June 1, they would be on the hook for $14 million in dead cap. Post-June 1, that number would be just $4 million, but by that time, all suitable replacements would be off the market.
Beyond the financials, Beckham is one of the greatest talents in professional football, and whether the team is in win now mode or looking to rebuild, OBJ should be the centerpiece alongside Saquon Barkley either way.
Bringing in Jacoby Brissett
The Giants are in need of a quarterback to eventually take over for Eli Manning, so it makes sense that every potentially available gun-slinger has been evaluated. That includes Jacoby Brissett, who has had his name floated as a potential trade target for Big Blue.
The problems with Brissett are multiple. First and foremost, he’s made it abundantly clear that he wants to be a starter in the NFL — something he wouldn’t be out of the gate with the Giants — which also means the contract of a starter. Beyond that, there will be other teams interesting in trading for him, which means the cost will rise the closer it gets to the NFL Draft.
Moreover, during his time as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback in 2017, Brissett wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire. He was capable, but managed just over 3,000 yards and finished the year with 13 touchdowns to seven interceptions. That’s just not going to get it done in today’s NFL.
Is there some upside to Brissett? Undoubtedly, but he would represent a tremendous gamble and provide no guarantee of stability after Manning’s exit from football.
Trade up in 2019 NFL Draft for a quarterback
This thought is subjective and could undoubtedly be argued by many, but as things currently sit (ie. pre-NFL Combine), there doesn’t appear to be enough meat on the bone for the Giants to trade up in the NFL Draft if they are targeting a quarterback.
That thought persists nonetheless. But with few threats ahead of them and a general uncertainty about the prospects themselves, the idea that the Giants would trade up — at quite an expense — to essentially take a quarterback likely to fall to them at No. 6 reeks of desperation that they shouldn’t have.
The overriding belief is that the Giants aren’t interested in Kyler Murray because of his height, while Drew Lock, Daniel Jones and Dwayne Haskins represent mixed bags.
Could the Giants target one of the other three quarterbacks come the draft? Absolutely, but are any of them truly worth moving up a few spots at an extreme cost? The consideration will be there, but the Giants, barring something noteworthy at the NFL Combine or pro days, shouldn’t gamble on moving up for a quarterback.
