New York Giants: With trade deadline three weeks away, who should be on the chopping block?

New York Giants, Dave Gettleman
Nov 10, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman looks on during pregame against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants are sitting with a pitiful 0-5 record. According to Tankathon, if the season ended today, the Giants would own the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With such a grim outlook ahead, New York is likely in need of a roster rebuild once again.

Three weeks from today, a highly-important day in the NFL will occur: the 2020 NFL Trade Deadline. The rumor mill is already starting to heat up with Jets running back Le’Veon Bell already being shopped around the league. New York was involved with the 2019 NFL Trade Deadline, making a trade to acquire Leonard Williams days before the deadline passed.

This begs the questions: will the New York Giants be active at this year’s trade deadline? Will they be buying, or more likely selling? If selling, who is on the chopping block?

Buying or Selling?

At 0-5, the New York Giants need to be selling, not buying. No 0-5 team has ever bounced back and made their way into the playoffs. The Giants’ season, unfortunately, is over. It is time to start looking towards the future.

The best way for an NFL team to plan for their future is to acquire draft capital; turn under-performing veteran players into young, high-potential players via the NFL Draft. The last thing the Giants need is to give up draft capital for veteran players. New York needs to rebuild this team and focus on their future, not remain in win-now mode.

Evan Engram

Giants tight end Evan Engram has not had the breakout 2020 campaign that many fans expected him to have. Engram is a talented player that has struggled with injuries throughout his career. In his most healthy season (2017), Evan played 15 games and totaled 64 receptions for 722 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Through the first five weeks of the 2020 NFL season, Engram has been targeted 32 times and totaled 18 receptions for 147 yards and 0 touchdowns. It has been a disappointing start to Engram’s fourth career season. With his contract expiring next year, the Giants need to decide whether or not Engram has a future on this team. With as much raw talent and athletic ability that he has, he would certainly have a trade market if the Giants decide to ship him out of New Jersey.

Dave Gettleman

General manager Dave Gettleman’s seat is flaming hot. Gettleman was nearly fired in the 2020 offseason but was kept around to prove his worth for one more season. Considering the Giants’ season is off to a historically bad start, it is reasonable to assume that Gettleman’s seat is hot, once again.

Last year, Gettleman made the controversial decision to trade for Leonard Williams ahead of the trade deadline. This left New York without a third-round pick and cost them the opportunity to secure more young talent. Gettleman cannot make a decision like this again. The Giants should not afford Gettleman the opportunity to trade for players this season. If he is not willing to sell assets, he should not be making any trades.

Golden Tate

After two years with the Giants, it seems like the writing is on the wall for wide receiver Golden Tate. Tate has struggled to make an impact in the Giants’ offense this year. The former “YAC King” has only averaged 2.6 yards after the catch per reception.

Teams around the NFL could find Tate to be a solid veteran option to line up in the slot. Tate has reliable hands, he has just struggled to separate and make plays in space. The New England Patriots were a potential landing spot for Golden Tate in free agency before he signed with New York. Maybe New England would be willing to give up a draft pick to improve Cam Newton’s weapons for the final stretch of the season.