We’re probably going to hear about a lot of trade ideas involving the New York Giants soon. Some of them good, some not so good, and some of them flat out controversial. But ESPN analyst and former quarterback Dan Orlovsky might have made the most controversial proposal possible for a Giants trade this offseason.
The idea involves sending away Saquon Barkley, so a lot of people will be against it no matter what the Giants get in return. And it’s not hard to see why. The Giants have largely rested their hopes on Barkley’s career panning out over the next few years, allowing them to win without exceptional play from Daniel Jones and a strong running game. But this idea from Orlovsky says just a good running game isn’t enough to win big.
What did Orlovsky propose?
The analyst thinks the Giants need to pull the trigger on a deal for Deshaun Watson.
“If I was Dave Gettleman of the New York Giants, I would take Daniel Jones, I would take Saquon Barkley, and I would take three first-round picks and call Houston, and not allow them to get off the phone with me,” Orlovsky said. “As a general manager in this moment, if you ever were going to take a swing, this is the swing to take. As a general manager, the last thing you want to do is look back with regret that we didn’t try hard enough, that we didn’t throw in one extra first rounder. That’s the type of player and person you’re going to get with Deshaun Watson.”
Watson is one of the highest valued quarterbacks to ever leave his team in a trade – that is, he will be if the Texans make the decision to trade him.
It’s looking, though, like keeping Watson is becoming impossible for Houston. It’s only a matter of whether the Giants will get Watson, or another team.
Evaluating the trade idea
Trading Jones is understandable. The Giants wouldn’t need another starting caliber quarterback if they gain Watson. Trading three first round picks will make most fans take a pause. It’s a big price, and would hurt the Giants in the future if they can’t win now with Watson. Three first round picks plus Saquon Barkley is a king’s ransom.
And the Giants potentially could win now if they made this trade. It’s tempting to have a quarterback like Watson, but it would also carry significant risks. If they fail to start winning, they’d have to cope with trading away one of their best players and losing three first round picks. Those picks may be valuable if the Giants need to keep reshaping their team.
The Giants front office is many things and relatively conservative is one of them. The Giants aren’t typically a team to make a crazy deal like this one, so in the end, it doesn’t look like it’s likely to happen in reality. That’s not to say Watson definitely won’t end up a Giant, though. If the Giants can get a lower price, it’s easy to see them being in the market for his skills.