The New York Giants made one major move at the NFL trade deadline this week, the deal with the New York Jets to land defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
All the bluster about some of team’s veterans being dealt turned out to be just that — bluster — as the Giants decided to hold on to them and their bloated contracts rather than give them away in fire sale fashion.
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who by all accounts was prepared to be dealt, was not. The Giants surely had him out there on the market but very few teams — if any — came calling. The ones that did apparently did not offer enough for the Giants to part ways with him.
Veteran quarterback Eli Manning did not waive his no-trade clause plus there was no reported interest in him. The Giants will keep Manning on the roster and pay him the remainder of his $11.5 million base salary that is due to him.
Left tackle Nate Solder has underachieved all season and looks well past his prime was also retained. The two main reasons for that: he’s not a top left tackle any longer and his contract is way over his market value. Plus, the Giants don’t have a viable take out for him. No way they put an inexperienced player out there to protect Daniel Jones’ blind side.
Linebacker Alec Ogletree also remained in the fold. The Giants have him locked up until the end of the 2021 season with cap hits the next two seasons at $11.75 million and $10.75 million. No one in the NFL would touch him with a 10-foot pole.
So, in the end, the Giants and general manager Dave Gettleman turned out to be buyers instead of sellers despite their 2-6 record.
