Judge: Deadline doesn’t alter long-term focus
The Giants don’t fit into either of the two easily defined categories at the NFL trade deadline.
Instead of “buyers” or “sellers,” think of the Giants more as “swappers,” with inventory potentially moving in two directions simultaneously.
Could they unload a player for a draft pick? Sure. Could they trade one of their nine picks in the 2022 draft if the price is right on a player under contract? Sounds like it.
“I always think long term,” coach Joe Judge said. “Sometimes long term can come into a move you can make immediately. I’m not about taking shortcuts into anything. I’ve made it very clear in terms of my vision of the team and where I want to go: It’s being built for long-term success.”
The Giants (2-5) will play one more game — Monday against the Chiefs — before the deadline at 4 p.m. on Nov. 2.
“I’m always looking at not only what our depth chart is now, but what does it look like at the end of this year? And what does it look like two years from now?” Judge said. “Whether you are going through free agency, trade or draft, you are always looking down the road in terms of not where you are immediately but where you have to get to.”
This logic is similar to what led general manager Dave Gettleman to trade for Leonard Williams when the Giants were 2-6 with a coaching staff about to be fired at the 2019 deadline. But there is a difference between the Williams trade — when the Giants lost contract-negotiation leverage by trading for a pending free agent — and a trade like the Panthers made last month for cornerback C.J. Henderson.
Henderson is a 2020 high-potential firstround pick, in his second season, who will cost about $7 million to have under control through 2023.
“There have been potential opportunities for trades going in and coming out the entire time since the season got going,” Judge said. “Sometimes people manufacture too much at the trade deadline and a lot of teams try to rush to make final moves. We’ll obviously talk about a number of phone calls we’ll be getting throughout the week, but I wouldn’t say we are anticipating doing anything.”
➤ Safety Jabrill Peppers left Sunday’s game in the third quarter after he was down clutching his knee at the end of a punt return. Peppers was originally diagnosed with an ankle injury. He also has a knee injury, the team announced.
“We’re hopeful to get him as soon as possible,” Judge said. “The game means a lot to Pepp.”
➤ WR Kenny Golladay (hip) and RB Saquon Barkley (knee) were expected to play against the Chiefs when the Giants did not put them on three-game injured reserve during Week 6. They’ve missed the past two games and WR Kadarius Toney (ankle) and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) missed the last game.