Nobody expected the New York Giants to lead the NFC East heading into their bye week. Nobody expected them to play this well without quarterback Jaxson Dart, and nobody expected the rest of the division to fall into disarray.

The Giants now have a real shot at the playoffs. That makes it worth discussing trades before the NFL trade deadline to round out the roster. I don’t think it’s logical for New York to take a major swing at a big-name player because they don’t have the draft capital. Smaller names are another story.

The Giants should only make one big-name call

Two big names are worth discussing, even if neither is likely to happen.

The first is Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle, Vita Vea. He just went through a contract dispute before the Bucs re-signed him, and he’s toward the end of his career. Per the A to Z Sports trade simulator, it would only take about a fourth-round pick to land him.

I know that sounds optimistic. Still, if a fourth-round pick does the job, the Giants should jump on it. Their run defense has been inconsistent all year, and Vea would change that immediately.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is the other name. It’s been speculated the Giants would add a running back, but Taylor is a non-starter for me. I plugged him into the trade simulator, and a 2028 second- and fourth-round pick barely moved the needle.

Taylor is 27 with three years left on his deal. Giving up major draft capital for him, in a year with a quality draft class across the board, would be a major mistake. This isn’t a Super Bowl season for New York. It’s a year to reach the playoffs and build momentum for 2027. A team with a far more complete roster will chase a bell cow like Taylor back.

New York needs running back help after the bye

Still, the Giants should add a running back. Tyrone Tracy just landed on injured reserve. Cam Skattebo has been up and down, though he had a strong game against the Houston Texans. I don’t think the Giants can succeed with Devin Singletary as their No. 2 back.

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard is the first cheap option. He’s 29 years old and nearing the end of his career, so he shouldn’t cost more than a late Day 3 pick. The Titans also have no shot at competing this year.

Pollard addresses a growing concern. The run game has struggled, but the bigger problem is depth. If Skattebo or Singletary goes down, can the Giants rely on players off the street? I don’t think so. Additionally, Pollard brings the big-play pop New York lacks. Skattebo grinds you down with his physical style, while Pollard makes defenders miss and breaks away.

Tampa Bay’s Kenneth Gainwell is the other option, and he should be even cheaper because he isn’t the Buccaneers’ primary back. This move is more of a last resort, but Gainwell would provide depth as a third running back on a team that spreads touches around.

Free agency isn’t an answer either. The best available back was Najee Harris, and the Giants already moved on from him.

A familiar face and a veteran cornerback

One trade candidate caught my eye: former Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. He isn’t the same player he was earlier in his career, but New York could use another big body up front. A cheap reunion would make the run defense less of a liability.

Lastly, the Giants should consider Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson. New York invested draft capital in Colton Hood, and Greg Newsome has been fine. Deonte Banks has been up and down, but he’s improved this season.

A reliable veteran starter opposite Banks would be a real upgrade. At the very least, Jackson would provide quality depth if someone goes down. Cornerback is a position the Giants could easily upgrade.

The front office should make at least one of these moves, because opportunities like this don’t come around often in New York.