Giants may be preparing for a fascinating flurry of trades involving three former first-round picks
New York could trade three formerly highly-touted draft picks before the regular season as training camp shakeup looms.
The New York Giants might be involved in a flurry of trades involving former first-round picks over the next few weeks. Several players on the current 90-man roster could be dealt ahead of the regular season, and the reasoning behind each potential move is sound.
That’s at least what USA Today’s Cory Woodroof expressed in a piece listing 20 trade candidates across the NFL. Of those 20 players, three are Giants, all former first-rounders. Edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux, offensive lineman Evan Neal, and cornerback Deonte Banks. If you look at how New York’s roster has evolved under general manager Joe Schoen and new head coach Jon Harbaugh, it’s reasonable to expect the Giants could move on from some or all of them by the end of training camp.
Thibodeaux is the most impactful name
The former fifth overall pick remains a valuable piece and would certainly generate reasonable draft compensation. But the Giants traded for Brian Burns, drafted Abdul Carter last year, and their first-round pick this year Arvell Reese might also play some edge defender. That surplus makes Thibodeaux expendable.
Thibodeaux is playing under his $14.7 million fifth-year option, and the Giants are unlikely to extend him long-term. Trading him now would clear the books by a significant margin, because all of that money would be absorbed by the acquiring team. If the Giants don’t trade him and Thibodeaux leaves in free agency next offseason, there would be a possibility of generating a compensatory pick in 2028. That’s a big if, though, and it would depend on the Giants’ own free agency spending. Getting a known return now makes more sense than gambling on future compensation.
Neal and Banks face uncertain futures
The other two names on the list are not top players at this stage, and both might be considered busts based on their performances so far.
Evan Neal was moved from tackle to guard last season in an effort to get more production out of him. It didn’t work, and now Neal is not only at risk of being traded but could be released outright if the Giants can’t find a trade partner. His value is at an all-time low, but even a late-round pick in return would be preferable to cutting him for nothing.
Cornerback Deonte Banks finds himself as an afterthought following two offseasons of significant secondary investment. The Giants signed Paulson Adebo last year and added Greg Newsome this offseason, pushing Banks further down the depth chart. With a different coaching staff now in place, the idea of keeping Banks around has lost whatever momentum it once had.
For the Giants, moving them makes sense, because acquiring additional draft capital is the optimal outcome considering the team’s roster-building timeline. Holding onto players who don’t fit the long-term vision serves no purpose at this point.
