New York Giants News & Rumors

Giants Still Receiving Calls On Azeez Ojulari

11:59am: More specifically, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Giants are seeking either a late fourth-rounder or an early fifth. This would require some projecting on the Giants’ end, as we are obviously halfway through the season and months away from the draft order being set. But the Giants hold one of the top trade chips remaining. It will be interesting to see if a team meets the asking price.

8:31am: Two of the main edge rush dominoes have now fallen as the trade deadline approaches. Baron Browning was dealt from the Broncos to the Cardinals yesterday, with the long-anticipated Za’Darius Smith trade being worked out between the Browns and Lions this morning.

The Browning swap saw Denver receive only a sixth-round pick based on his status as a pending free agent. That price could be key as it pertains to the Giants and Azeez OjulariHe, too, is approaching the conclusion of his rookie contract and the lack of extension talks with New York makes him a prime candidate to be dealt today. To little surprise, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports calls continue to come in on Ojulari.

Fowler adds, notably, that the Giants appear to value the 24-year-old higher than the return Browning generated. Recent reports indicated New York set a high asking price for both Ojulari and fellow rental Darius Slaytonwho also wants to remain a Giant despite the fact he does not have a new contract in sight. Over the weekend, a prediction emerged that a fifth-round pick would likely constitute the best-case scenario for New York in the event Ojulari were to be traded. In the wake of Browning being dealt for a single Day 3 selection, it will be interesting to see if the Giants are willing to authorize a deal for a similar fee.

The Cardinals were among the teams showing interest in Ojulari, but with Browning in the fold they can be removed from the list of potential suitors. The Lions have also addressed a major need by acquiring Smith, but teams like the Falcons may still be in the running. The same could very well also be true of the Bengals, a team which just agreed to a deal for running back Khalil Herbert but is known to also be on the lookout for defensive help.

The Giants added Brian Burns via trade this offseason, inking him to the league’s third-most lucrative deal in terms of AAV ($28.2MM). 2022 fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux will be eligible for a big-ticket deal of his own as early as this spring, so committing to a second Ojulari contract could be challenging from a roster-building perspective. The Georgia product posted eight sacks as a rookie but missed notable time with injuries each of the following two seasons. In 2024, he has been available for all nine of the team’s contests, posting six sacks and 10 pressures. Given that production, offers should be expected to continue coming in as the day progresses.

2024 NFL Trades

Less than one week remains until the 2024 trade deadline. An offseason measure to move the deadline back one week passed, sliding the deadline beyond Week 9 after it had resided the Tuesday following Week 8 since 2012. That opens the door to more activity this season.

The 2024 offseason also featured extensive work, as teams added starters and depth pieces. As teams make final assessments of their rosters nearing the Nov. 5 deadline (at 3pm CT), here are the trades involving veteran players (or rookies already drafted) to take place this year:

March 4

Bears chose defensive end Austin Booker at No. 144

March 9

Broncos sent Seahawks No. 136, included 203 in trade with Jets for QB Zach Wilson

March 10

Patriots chose QB Joe Milton at 193

March 11

Bucs drafted WR Jalen McMillan at No. 92; Lions traded No. 201 to Eagles

Panthers traded down from No. 39, giving Rams access to DT Braden Fiske; team moved No. 141 in Bills deal that sent WR Xavier Legette to Carolina. Giants chose RB Tyrone Tracy at 166.

March 12

Bengals chose DB Daijahn Anthony at No. 224 

March 13

Texans traded No. 232 to Vikings

Ravens chose WR Devontez Walker at No. 113, QB Devin Leary at 218; Jets drafted RB Braelon Allen at 134

March 14

Commanders traded Nos. 78, 152 to Eagles in trade that sent CB Cooper DeJean to Philadelphia; Seahawks moved down from No. 102, drafted G Sataoa Laumea at 179

Bolts traded No. 110 to Patriots 

March 15

Steelers chose LB Payton Wilson at No. 98; Eagles traded No. 120 to Dolphins in package that brought back 2025 third-rounder

March 16

Fields must play in 51% of Steelers’ offensive snaps for pick to elevate from sixth to fourth round

March 22

Chiefs traded No. 221 to Bills; Titans chose OLB Jaylen Harrell at 252

March 29

Pick would have become second-rounder had Reddick played 67.5% of Jets’ 2024 defensive snaps and recorded at least 10 sacks. Reddick’s holdout ensured Philly’s pick will land in Round 3.

April 3

Texans dealt No. 189 to Lions for Nos. 205, 249

April 12

Browns chose CB Myles Harden at No. 227

April 22

In trade that gave Vikings J.J. McCarthy draft real estate at No. 10 overall, Jets sent No. 203 to Minnesota; Broncos chose C Nick Gargiulo at 256

April 27

May 9

August 9

August 11

August 14

Dallas carried Phillips on its active roster for two games, meeting minimum requirement for conditional sixth to transfer

August 22

Pick did not convey due to Commanders cutting York before he played in two games with team

August 23

August 24

August 26

August 27

August 28

October 14

October 15

Pick would upgrade to second-rounder if Adams earns first- or second-team All-Pro recognition or is on Jets’ active roster for 2024 AFC championship game or Super Bowl LIX

October 23

Pick would become fourth-rounder if Hopkins both plays 60% of Chiefs’ remaining offensive snaps and Kansas City advances to Super Bowl LIX

October 28

October 29

Robinson’s playing time will determine if Jags pick climbs to a fourth-rounder and whether Vikings will end up receiving 2026 seventh

November 4

November 5

Sixth-rounder going to New Orleans comes from pick Saints sent Commanders for Ridgeway 

Trade Rumors: Panthers, Thielen, Texans, Steelers, Slayton, Giants, Dolphins, Vikings

Adam Thielen ripped off his third 1,000-yard season last year but did so for a 2-15 Panthers team. Although the Panthers notched their second win of the season, they are certainly not expected to sniff playoff contention this season. Thielen’s name has come up in trade rumors, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the 34-year-old receiver’s camp would like to catch on with a contender to close out this season. The Panthers are open to more seller’s moves, after their Diontae Johnson trade. While Carolina has some players in mind for post-2024 work, Thielen’s three-year, $25MM contract and age would make him a cut candidate next year.

Going down with a hamstring injury early this season, Thielen is in the IR-return window. That could affect his trade availability, but the possession target said (via ESPN.com’s David Newton) he expects to return in Week 10. That would obviously align with Tuesday’s deadline. It would cost the Panthers roughly $11MM — spread out between this year and next — to trade Thielen, but that would be unlikely to deter the rebuilding team if it received an offer. The Panthers’ Johnson return checked in low enough it caught plenty of attention, and with the team picking up some of the traded WR’s tab, it would not surprise if a team paid some of Thielen’s remaining money (roughly $2.4MM) to facilitate a swap.

Any player cut beyond the deadline is subject to waivers, something that could come up if the Panthers hold onto the veteran past Tuesday. Here is the latest from the market:

  • Teams still interested in adding receivers include the Steelers and Texans, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero said during a Rich Eisen Show appearance. Pittsburgh’s interest in adding a WR piece has been well known for months, and Thielen is on the radar after Christian Kirk talks fell through. While conflicting reports are coming out of Houston. The AFC South leaders have been linked to both standing pat following the Stefon Diggs injury and then exploring the market. Pelissero predicts the Steelers’ odyssey will conclude with a receiver added by Tuesday’s deadline.
  • Unless Courtland Sutton is moved months after the Broncos rejected a third-rounder from the 49ers for him, Darius Slayton may be the top name available. Regardless of the reported high price the Giants have set on the sixth-year wideout, Breer adds the team has looked into trading both he and Azeez Ojulari for a bit now. Both are in contract years for a 2-7 team, with Ojulari generating extensive interest. The Cardinals were in on Ojulari, but they filled their OLB need with Baron Browning today. Also looking for EDGE help, the Falcons have checked in as well. Neither Slayton nor Ojulari want to be dealt, but the Giants are in position to strongly consider moving each. Slayton also suffered a concussion Sunday, which stands to impact his status as a trade chip. The Steelers are believed to be interested in the four-time Giants receiving leader.
  • The NFL features a high number of two-win teams (nine), something that could lead to more deals over the next 23-plus hours. But the 6-2 Vikings are also believed to be open to dealing away a piece. Minnesota linebacker Brian Asamoah should be considered a trade candidate, per Breer, as the Vikings have some LB depth in Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace, Kamu Grugier-Hill and hybrid player Andrew Van Ginkel. A former third-round pick, Asamoah has never started an NFL game and would not net much in a trade.
  • The Dolphins are one of those two-win clubs, having lost on a 61-yard Bills game-winning field goal in Week 9. Miami may still not be overly interested in selling, with Drew Rosenhaus indicating during a WSVN interview (h/t the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) the team has been looking into helping this year’s roster over the past few weeks. Miami having lost its past two games with Tua Tagovailoa healthy could contribute to this deadline approach, and Breer adds backup linebacker Duke Riley looms as a candidate to be dealt. But the team has made several big-ticket extension moves — including the Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle deals this offseason — in recent years, decisions that would stand to influence whether selling at the midseason point is prudent.

Trade Notes: Lions, Ojulari, Browning, Raiders, Neal

A report from Sunday afternoon indicated the Lions are close to completing a trade for Za’Darius Smith. The veteran Browns edge rusher has long been linked to Detroit, a team which has been on the lookout for help in that area since losing Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to major injuries.

Of course, the Lions have explored other options as well. Their process of seeking out suitable targets has included interest in Maxx Crosby, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. To no surprise, though, the Lions have been told Crosby is unavailable. Raiders owner Mark Davis has made it clear on multiple occasions the three-time Pro Bowler will not be dealt, recently adding that sentiment also applies beyond this year’s deadline.

Detroit could show interest in the likes of Jadeveon Clowney and/or Chase Young, and the Titans’ Arden Key is the most recent name to emerge as a potential target. The members of that group would likely no longer be on the Lions’ radar provided a Smith agreement came to fruition, but they could be in play if that does not turn out to be the case. Detroit’s willingness to aim big by inquiring about Crosby is another indication of the team’s intention of making another deep playoff run in 2024.

Here are some more trade-related notes from around the league:

  • Neither Darius Slayton nor Azeez Ojulari are believed to have been the subject of any Giants extension talks, pointing further in the direction of one or both being traded. After New York’s Week 9 loss, Ojulari confirmed to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com no talks have taken place on the contract front. While that has made him the trade target of multiple teams, the 24-year-old said he prefers to remain with the Giants. Slayton has similarly made public his desire to stay in place despite the team’s 2-7 record, although he has been the subject of trade speculation on multiple occasions over the years. Ojulari could offer a notable rental boost to many teams, but it remains to be seen if the Giants will entertain offers including minimal draft capital.
  • The Broncos sit at 5-4 on the year after Sunday’s loss. The team might not adopt a firm buyer’s or seller’s stance in advance of the trade deadline, but that could still result in a move being made. Edge rusher Baron Browning has previously been floated as a trade candidate, and his name continues to be mentioned in rumors. Both Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk report the 25-year-old is a name to watch over the coming days. Browning, who is nearing the end of his rookie contract, wants to remain in Denver, although he recently acknowledged an extension does not seem to be around the corner.
  • Crosby is off limits, but the Raiders could be open to selling off at other positions with a 2-7 record. Jakobi Meyers is among the receivers who could still be on the move, and plenty of teams who have yet to add in the pass-catching department could be active before the deadline. With that said, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes the Raiders are not actively shopping Meyers or any other players. SI’s Albert Breer corroborates that, adding Crosby is set to remain in place. The team will, of course, take calls from potential suitors while looking ahead to at least one QB addition ahead of 2025. Adding draft capital could aid Vegas’ attempts to acquire a franchise passer.
  • Evan Neal‘s time with the Giants so far has – to put it lightly – not gone according to plan. The 2022 No. 7 pick has found himself out of the starting lineup at guard and tackle, although with injuries up front that could change somewhat soon. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Neal is a “nonstarter” on the trade front from New York’s perspective. That comes as little surprise since the Alabama product’s value in a swap would fall well short of the capital invested in him two years ago. Neal is attached to his rookie contract through 2025, leaving him some runway to bounce back from his earlier struggles in time for free agency.

Giants Have Not Discussed Extension With Darius Slayton, Azeez Ojulari

As the trade deadline draws nearer, the Giants remain a team worth watching closely. Pending free agents on both sides of the ball have garnered considerable interest from potential buyers, and New York’s chances of moving on will of course be swayed in part by the team’s willingness to commit to new contracts.

Wideout Darius Slayton and edge rusher Azeez Ojulari are firmly on the trade block at this point, which comes as little surprise given the Giants’ 2-6 record. The team could turn away interest if an extension were to be imminent on one or both fronts, but that does not appear to be the case. Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports no known negotiations have taken place with either player, something which no doubt would have transpired by now if the team had serious intentions of avoiding free agent departures.

Slayton remains one of several receivers who could be on the move despite the fact four WR trades (involving Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins and Diontae Johnson) have already taken place recently. The 27-year-old is no stranger to trade speculation, and one seemed highly possible this offseason. Instead, Slayton remained in place with the Giants, the only team he has played for in his career. Teams like the Steelers are known to be on the lookout for an addition at that position, and Pittsburgh has shown interest in Slayton, whose preference would be to remain in New York.

“For two or three years now, I’ve been a trade-deadline name, so I control what I can control and don’t worry about it much,” the Auburn product told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post“It’s somewhat of a good thing because if people are trading for you, you’re obviously doing something right. I obviously want to be here. The easy thing is to go to somebody who is 6-2 right now, but I have roots here and love my teammates here.”

In four of his first five seasons, Slayton led the Giants in receiving yards. This year, the former fifth-rounder has posted two 100-yard performances as part of a WR unit led by first-round rookie Malik Nabers. The Giants do not have many known commodities in terms of pass-catchers beyond that pairing, but with a base salary of just $2.5MM for the season Slayton would be an affordable rental for any number of teams. A change of scenery might not produce an uptick in targets to close out the year, but it could give Slayton a rare chance at postseason action.

New York is believed to have set a high asking price on Slayton, with the same being true of Ojulari. The latter is on the radar of teams likes the Bengals, with the Falcons and Cardinals also being in the mix. Duggan reported earlier this weekend that a fifth-round pick might be the most the Giants could land in a trade, an underwhelming return for a player on his way to surpassing his career high in sacks with six so far in eight contests.

The Giants already have Brian Burns on the books as one of the league’s highest-paid edge rushers, and Kayvon Thibodeaux could have a long-term pact in hand as early as this offseason. Affording a major raise for Ojulari coming off his rookie pact would be create a roster-building challenge at other, more pressing positions for New York. As a result, calls will no doubt continue coming in for the 24-year-old.

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll recently received a public vote of confidence from owner John Mara, although speculation continues with respect to their job security. How the team’s top decision-makers operate moving forward will be a major storyline, and that of course includes the handling of quarterback Daniel Jones. More immediately, the situations for Slayton and Ojulari will be key as well.

Cardinals, Falcons Monitoring Azeez Ojulari; Latest On Giants OLB’s Market

A shortlist of names is in place regarding the edge rush trade market. One of the top targets for contending teams remains Azeez Ojulari, who is currently on track to finish his Giants rookie contract over the remainder of the season.

As a pending free agent, Ojulari could easily price himself out of New York. The team already has Brian Burns attached to a $28.2MM-per-year deal, and 2022 fifth overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux will be eligible for an extension this offseason. Keeping that pair in the fold for the foreseeable future while also committing to a signficant Ojulari raise would be challenging given the Giants’ more immediate roster needs.

To no surprise, potential buyers have made calls about the Georgia product’s availability in advance of the November 5 trade deadline. Several teams continue to express interest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network writes. Depending on the status of veterans likes Za’Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney, Ojulari could find himself as the top edge rusher on the market over the coming days. His value would, of course, be boosted by a multitude of teams making offers.

The Bengals are on the lookout for help along the defensive front, and they have been connected to a pursuit of the 24-year-old. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Falcons and Cardinals can also be added to that list (subscription required). Atlanta in particular has been “aggressive” in pursuing an edge rush move in general and a potential Ojulari move in particular, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Falcons have previously been named as a team to watch regarding an addition along the edge, with the Matt Judon acquisition not yielding high-end production and injuries emerging elsewhere at that spot. Lorenzo Carter is currently on injured reserve, and Atlanta could certainly use at least a depth contributor in his absence (although Ojulari would be expected to handle first-team duties upon arrival with any number of suitors).

The Cardinals have been hit hard by injuries along the D-line this year, so adding along the edge would be a sensible move (and one which Schefter confirms is in play). General manager Monti Ossenfort spoke about his trade deadline plans yesterday, and he confirmed he has explored deals which could help add production in the pass-rush department. With six sacks this year and 22 in his career, Ojulari would be a welcomed addition for Arizona as the team looks to remain atop the NFC West.

Given his status as a rental, the Giants may not be on track to land signficant draft capital in any deal for the former second-rounder. While the team is believed to be setting a high asking price for Ojulari – along with veteran receiver Darius Slayton Russini’s colleague Dan Duggan notes a fifth-round pick represents the best-case scenario for New York at this point. A lone Day 3 selection may tempt the front office to risk a free agent departure and a resultant 2026 compensatory pick, but a team confident in extending Ojulari (as the Bears did last year with Montez Sweat, for instance) could be willing to pay a higher price.

Much of the speculation and deals during the 2024 season have revolved around the receiver position, but the edge rush market figures to be worth watching closely in advance of the deadline. Ojulari in particular should be the subject of many more conversations between the Giants and teams looking for a second-half boost on defense.

Giants Place K Greg Joseph On IR, Elevate Irish Gaelic Footballer

The Giants were forced to scramble early in the season when kicker Graham Gano went down with a groin injury in Week 2. Now, as Gano’s replacement Greg Joseph deals with an abdominal injury, New York will get creative once again. Per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Joseph’s injury will land him on injured reserve, and the team will utilize a standard gameday practice squad elevation on kicker Jude McAtamney to replace him this weekend.

In the aftermath of the Gano injury, Joseph was signed off of the Lions’ practice squad. The Giants had auditioned a number of free agent kickers but opted instead for Joseph, who was waiting in the wings behind UFL star Jake Bates. Joseph has been admirable in replacement duty, converting 13 of his 16 field goal attempts, with all three misses coming from beyond 40 yards. He also assisted an uninspiring offense, converting all six of the extra points he was asked to kick.

New York had ruled out Joseph for tomorrow’s game with the injury to his abdomen already, but placing him on IR means that he’ll miss at least three additional contests. The Giants are not going external once again to fill their newly vacant kicker position, instead choosing to elevate the practice squad kicker McAtamney. He seemingly was not prepared to step up in Week 3, but the Giants will trust him to debut in the NFL tomorrow.

McAtamney is a former Gaelic football player from North Ireland. After gaining an interest in American football, McAtamney trained with ProKick Australia and moved to America to play at Chowan University and Rutgers. He made 12 of 18 field goal attempts for the Scarlet Knights with a long of 49 yards and converted 23 of 24 extra points. As a native Irishman, McAtamney qualified for the NFL’s international roster exemption, allowing him to be on the Giants’ practice squad without counting towards the 16-man limit.

Joining McAtamney from the practice squad tomorrow will be outside linebacker Tomon Fox, who is not being elevated but signed to the active roster to fill the roster spot vacated by Joseph. Filling Fox’s spot on the practice squad is versatile fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson, who rejoins the team after being released on Wednesday.

Giants Notes: Barkley, Banks, Neal, Hubbard

Thanks in part to HBO, Saquon Barkley‘s New York exit has been one of the more thoroughly examined free agency choices in PFR’s history. The NFL’s second-leading rusher this season was not in the Giants’ 2024 plans, and he had effectively decided to move on before this year’s free agency. The 2023 offseason paved Barkley’s path to Philly, and while much is known about the Giants and their six-year RB1 not agreeing on an extension last year, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan indicates Barkley declined the team’s March 2023 offer — believed to be in the $13MM-per-year ballpark — because it included only $19.5MM guaranteed (subscription required).

The Giants famously prioritized Daniel Jones over Barkley in March 2023, re-signing the QB and tagging the RB. When the Giants and Barkley huddled up again before the July deadline, the team’s final offer came in at $22MM guaranteed. That would have covered nearly two franchise tags, though it fell just short of doing so. A guarantee including two tag amounts is generally viewed as the floor for extension talks with tagged players, but this July offer came after the Giants had previously proposed $23.5MM guaranteed, Duggan adds. Barkley passed, as the Giants also reduced the AAV on their final proposal — a three-year, $33MM deal in total — and then proceeded to win a bet on himself.

Barkley pocketed the $10.1MM franchise tag salary and then scored a $26MM guarantee at signing from the Eagles. While Giants pro scouting director Chris Rossetti suggested a value gap may exist between Barkley and the other 2024 FA RBs, the team did not opt for a second tag, leading to the Eagles payday. The Giants were not happy at the appearance of Barkley’s Eagles framework being done before the legal tampering period, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan and Tim McManus, who added the Eagles wondered why their rivals were irked due to being prepared to let the two-time Pro Bowler walk anyway. The NFL cleared the Eagles of tampering this summer.

Here is the latest from the NFC’s New York team:

  • The Giants benched Deonte Banks for what Brian Daboll classified as insufficient effort during their Monday loss to the Steelers. While Daboll confirmed (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) Banks will start in Week 9, concerns about the 2023 first-round cornerback’s effort level have come up previously. Two prior warnings about effort are believed to have came Banks’ way from New York’s coaching staff, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, who adds teammates have expressed issues at the Maryland alum’s work here as well. The Giants made Banks the center of their CB plan this offseason, as they had intended to let Adoree’ Jackson walk (before re-signing the veteran days before Week 1). Pro Football Focus ranks Banks 87th among corners this season.
  • Evan Neal saw his first 2024 action Monday, playing just one snap in Pittsburgh. The former No. 7 overall pick’s stock has nosedived since his 2023 ankle injury. The Giants had not viewed Neal as their swing tackle going into the season, giving 2022 third-rounder Joshua Ezeudu that role. Ezeudu replaced Andrew Thomas initially but struggled, leading to Chris Hubbardsigned off the 49ers’ practice squad — starting in Pittsburgh. Hubbard will start again in Week 9, Daboll notes, while new Giants O-line coach Carmen Bricillo confirms (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard) Neal remains an RT-only player. Neal has done work at LT before and after practice, but the Giants still do not view the demoted RT starter as an option to fill in for Thomas on the blindside.
  • The Giants met with former Cardinals left tackle D.J. Humphries last week, marking the offseason cap casualty’s first tie to a team since his release. Humphries did not sign, and Daboll (via Duggan) pointed to a financial gap existing between team and player. The Giants hold only $1.7MM in cap space, while Humphries was previously tied to a three-year, $51MM Cardinals deal. The nine-year veteran is coming off an ACL tear sustained in December of last year.

Examining Final Stage Of WR Trade Market

The top dominoes on the wide receiver trade market have likely fallen. Third-round picks changed hands in the Davante Adams and Amari Cooper swaps, and DeAndre Hopkins will join Adams as a Hall of Fame candidate — one who can now bolster his case by moving the needle for a Chiefs threepeat bid.

Diontae Johnson also wound up in a second trade this year, albeit for lower-than-expected compensation. This offseason also brought the likes of Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen and Jerry Jeudy being traded, marking another busy year — both contractually and transactionally — at the position.

More pieces figure to be moved before the deadline. Here is where things stand with the remaining trade chips at the receiver position:

Likely departures

Darius Slayton, Giants

This Giants regime attempted to move on from Slayton two years ago, leaving the proven target out of the starting lineup into training camp and cutting his pay on a rookie contract. Slayton ended up mattering quite a bit in Brian Daboll‘s first year, which produced a surprise playoff berth despite Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay producing next to nothing and Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson suffering season-ending injuries. Slayton, as he has throughout his career, remained a reliable albeit unspectacular Daniel Jones weapon. Slayton, 27, has led the Giants in receiving four times since being a 2019 fifth-round pick but has never eclipsed 800 yards, illustrating the long-running issues plaguing this aerial attack.

Malik Nabers arrived as a result of those issues (and the Patriots passing on the Giants’ trade-up bid for Drake Maye), but Slayton has not been marginalized. The sixth-year wideout, with 420 yards in eight games, is on pace for a career-high total. He continues to aid Jones, but with the Giants falling to 2-6 and having a Commanders matchup on tap, teams will call on Slayton. Linked to several big-name receivers this year, the Steelers are believed to be interested. The Texans may be lurking as well.

Just more than $1.3MM remains on Slayton’s through-2024 contract, and although a recent report pointed to a high asking price, this remains the best chance for the Giants to collect an asset for a player they did not extend — despite the veteran’s efforts to secure better terms — this offseason.

Mike Williams, Jets

Williams is 30, coming off an ACL tear and on a team that has rendered him to the periphery following the Adams acquisition. The free agency pickup combined for one reception since Adams’ Week 7 debut and has just 11 catches for 160 yards in eight games as a Jet. With Allen Lazard regaining steam with Aaron Rodgers healthy, it is unsurprising the Jets started shopping Williams in earnest immediately after the Adams trade. Just more than $2.3MM will remain on the former top-10 pick’s contract after tonight’s game; the Jets will wait until after their Week 9 matchup to see if a worthwhile offer emerges.

Considering the rumor volume here, enough smoke exists to predict a second Williams separation from a team this year. The Saints and Steelers have pursued him, though at 2-6, New Orleans no longer profiles as a buyer despite being in on Adams weeks ago. The Jets also are in a seller’s position, though GM Joe Douglas‘ job being on the line may keep the subtractions to a minimum. The Chargers are 4-3 and have inquired about bringing the 2017 draftee back, despite cutting him in March.

Lazard’s Thursday IR placement does throw a wrench in teams’ potential plans to trade for Williams. He was previously viewed as a near-certainty to be dealt. It would be interesting if that injury prompted the Jets to take Williams off the market due to the high-stakes circumstances tied to this season.

A to-be-determined Patriot

Three separate Pats wideouts — K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and trade-rumor fixture Kendrick Bourne — have been tied to potential moves. At 2-6, New England will need to aim for some moves before next week’s deadline. Bourne, 29, has indicated he would like to stay to help the team’s Drake Maye-fronted rebuild. In addition to Thornton being one of many highly drafted Bill Belichick wideouts who have failed to take off in Foxborough, second-year target Kayshon Boutte has griped about his role.

This fluid situation will almost definitely involve one trade. Osborn, Bourne’s rumor regularity notwithstanding, may be the more likely veteran piece New England deals. The Pats are believed to be shopping he and Bourne, despite the latter having re-signed (on a three-year, $19MM deal) in March. The 49ers, who wanted Bourne back during Brandon Aiyuk trade talks with the Patriots this summer, appear to be standing down at the position following Aiyuk’s injury. The Pats signed Osborn for one year and $4MM, but just $1.18MM consists of base salary, providing relative value for teams, as Osborn has two 600-plus-yard seasons as a Vikings slot on his resume.

Calls coming in

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Carson Palmer‘s quasi-retirement and a Jason Campbell injury producing a monster offer (first- and second-rounders) brought the Bengals to make a deadline trade; Carlos Dunlap becoming a malcontent before the 2020 deadline keyed another such move. Teams have asked about Higgins for a while, as the former second-rounder requested a trade in March. Despite a failure to complete an extension with Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, the Bengals have made it clear the younger WR is their long-term priority.

Higgins is tied to a $21.8MM franchise tag tender, being the only 2024 tag recipient not extended this offseason. Couple that $10MM-plus salary number, if traded after Week 9, and the Bengals’ past and it is a mortal lock the longtime Chase wingman finishes the season in Cincinnati. Higgins, 25, could be re-tagged in 2025, giving the Bengals another window to move on if/once they hold onto him at this year’s deadline.

Cooper Kupp, Rams

The Rams made news earlier this month by both confirming they had received calls on Kupp and a separate report suggesting the team was shopping him. The Chiefs, Bills and Steelers are among the teams to discuss Kupp with the Rams; Kansas City is believed to have preferred Kupp to the player ultimately acquired (Hopkins). But the Rams have won two straight, the second of which featuring Kupp and Puka Nacua back at work.

Sean McVay has all but confirmed Kupp is not going anywhere, and the Rams — who had wanted a return that surpassed the Adams price (conditional third-round pick) — have the former triple-crown winner signed through 2026.

D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks

At this season’s outset, Deebo Samuel appeared much less likely than Metcalf to play out a three-year contract inked during training camp in 2022. Now, Samuel is back as the 49ers’ No. 1 wideout (thanks to Aiyuk’s injury) and Metcalf is drawing trade interest. Calls have come in on the sixth-year pass catcher, who is tied to a three-year, $72MM extension that runs through 2025. The Seahawks, however, are not expected to move their top wideout.

Paired with Tyler Lockett for six seasons, Metcalf is a more appealing trade option due to his age (26). Lockett is 32, and while it is worth wondering the Seahawks would be more amenable to moving the older player, no rumors have swirled there. Seattle has hired a new coaching staff and would drop to 4-5 with a loss to Los Angeles this weekend, but it appears the Mike Macdonald-run team will stick with the big-bodied target throughout the season before potentially reassessing ahead of his contract year.

On trade radar

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

The Raiders did extensive work on the past two quarterback classes, going elsewhere in 2023 and then seeing an effort to trade up for Jayden Daniels predictably fail this year. Las Vegas is between eras at quarterback, with a flood of rumors set to tie the team to the 2025 class undoubtedly coming soon.

The team already picked up a Jets 2025 third-rounder, but with Meyers initially signed to continue working under his three-year Patriots OC (Josh McDaniels), he makes sense as a trade chip as well. Although the Raiders were rumored to want to keep the sixth-year vet, teams are monitoring his status. The Texans, whose GM (Nick Caserio) was in place when the Pats signed Meyers as a UDFA, may be one of them. Meyers’ three-year, $33MM deal runs through 2025; no guarantees are on the accord post-2024.

Josh Palmer, Chargers

Drafted by current Raiders GM Tom Telesco, Palmer is not believed to be in the Jim Harbaugh-run Chargers’ plans much longer. The former third-round pick has been productive in recent years, as injuries to Mike Williams and Keenan Allen proved frequent in that span.

Capable of playing inside and outside, Palmer would be of interest to a team that misses on Slayton — if, in fact, the six-year Giant is moved. The Bolts are believed to be open trading Palmer, potentially wanting someone else to fill in alongside new top target Ladd McConkey. Palmer appears likely to leave as a free agent in March, so it is logical — even at 4-3 — for the Chargers to consider moving on now.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Never one to be excluded from rumors during one of the NFL’s trade windows, Sutton remains the Broncos’ top wideout. His purpose is now boosting Bo Nix‘s development, which is going better than most expected. As Nix won NFL Rookie of the Month honors for October, Sutton is still coming up as a candidate to be moved. The Steelers are interested, to the point they may have the ex-Russell Wilson weapon as their lead trade target. This is old hat for the seventh-year player, who has been coming up in trade rumors since the 2022 deadline. Sean Payton confirmed his WR1 drew more interest this year.

Sutton, 29, is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal — one that has become rather team-friendly, especially with no 2025 guarantees in place — that features just a $1.13MM base salary. Because the Broncos restructured the deal for cost-saving purposes, Sutton would tag them with more than $15MM in dead money — an amount that would be spread between this year and next in the event of a trade. The low salary would appeal to trade suitors, but with Wilson set to count more than $30MM against the Broncos’ 2025 cap, taking on another chunk of dead money now would be a curious strategy. Sutton’s exit would come as strange due to his importance to Nix’s growth and the Broncos having declined a third-round offer from the 49ers in August.

Jonathan Mingo, Adam Thielen, Panthers

Thielen is a 34-year-old receiver on a Panthers team early in a rebuild. No guarantees remain on the ex-Viking’s three-year, $25MM contract for 2025, making him a logical trade candidate. This topic came up recently, and despite the Panthers trading Johnson already, it is doubtful they would pass on offers to keep Thielen, who profiles as a 2025 cut candidate. The former Minnesota UDFA, who tacked on a third 1,000-yard season to his resume last season, remains in the IR-return window after a hamstring injury.

A 2023 second-round pick who has not thus far justified his draft slot, Mingo came up recently as a player who is probably not part of the Panthers’ long-term plans. Mingo may have more trade value, despite the accomplishment gap between these Carolina targets, due to his age and contract status. The Ole Miss alum’s rookie deal runs through 2026, though he is sitting on just 12 catches for 121 yards despite not missing a game this season.

Courtland Sutton, Darius Slayton On Steelers’ Radar?

As the Steelers have climbed to 6-2, they have seen Russell Wilson deliver two promising starts in wins over the Jets and Giants. Those conquests still do not appear to have moved the AFC North leaders out of a wide receiver market they have populated for months.

The Steelers have been tied to Davante Adams, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Mike Williams at points this year. Cooper Kupp also came up in conversations. Pittsburgh’s interest in Williams remains, with the team joining the Chargers and Saints (and probably others) as clubs looking into a player the Jets continue to shop. Considering Pittsburgh’s need, it also should not surprise the team is being linked to two trade-block regulars.

Courtland Sutton and Darius Slayton are believed to join Williams on the Steelers’ radar, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, who indicates a hierarchy exists here. The Steelers are believed to have plenty of interest in prying Sutton from Denver, though Pauline adds the Broncos — as they have for years — are setting a high asking price on one of this NFL period’s trade-rumor mainstays.

Sutton’s name, despite the Broncos’ 5-3 record, came up recently — yet again. Sutton, 29, has been mentioned at just about every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline. The Broncos then set a second-round asking price on the 6-foot-4 wideout during the 2023 offseason, seeing him usurp Jerry Jeudy as Wilson’s top target. Wilson and Sutton formed a rapport, one that produced a few acrobatic catches from the former second-round pick, last season. As a result, it would not surprise if the Steelers were one of the teams in on Sutton this offseason.

Sean Payton confirmed several clubs called about Sutton this year, doing so after the Broncos unloaded Jeudy for fifth- and sixth-round picks. The most notable 2024 Sutton “what if?” came in August, when the 49ers offered a third-round pick to the Broncos in what would have been a three-team deal that sent Sutton to Denver and Aiyuk to Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ trade framework with the 49ers for Aiyuk did not turn out to be enough, as the now-high-priced veteran recommitted to San Francisco — weeks before sustaining a season-ending injury.

It would represent odd timing for the Broncos to finally part with Sutton, as their WR corps is thin — especially after Josh Reynolds landed on IR and then suffered injuries in a recent shooting — beyond the seventh-year vet. Second-rounder Marvin Mims has not developed as the Broncos hoped, and the team is otherwise reliant on fourth- and seventh-round rookies (Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele). Trading Sutton now would stand to affect Bo Nix‘s development, hence the high price the Broncos are again setting.

As Sutton is tied to a four-year, $60MM deal that features no guarantees in 2025 — the contract’s final year — Slayton is winding down a two-year, $12MM accord. The Giants wide receiver has started strong this season, becoming a nice complementary piece alongside fast-emerging rookie Malik Nabers. The latter is New York’s future at the position, with Slayton — a Dave Gettleman-era draftee who has come up in trade rumors at multiple points — a player the Giants will undoubtedly consider moving before the Nov. 5 deadline.

The Giants are also setting a notable price on their WR trade chip, as both Slayton and Azeez Ojulari have drawn interest but are not locks to move. Though, the Giants’ 2-6 record — ahead of a Commanders matchup — may carry the day. Slayton appears a Sutton backup plan, per Pauline, but probably will be easier to obtain at this point.

The Steelers have sought a George Pickens complement for months, having traded Diontae Johnson during the legal tampering period in March. Slot player Calvin Austin has become Pittsburgh’s de facto WR2, with 257 yards, but given their hot start, the Steelers figure to make a final push to help Wilson before the deadline.