Sportsnaut
Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline came and went without the New York Giants making a single move.
At 2-7 and spiraling toward another lost season, Big Blue’s silence stood in stark contrast to their MetLife Stadium co-tenants, the New York Jets, who aggressively reshaped their roster. But sometimes inaction speaks louder than any transaction — and what the Giants didn’t do reveals plenty about the franchise’s uncertain direction.
Unless the team engineers a miraculous turnaround over the final eight games, head coach Brian Daboll will likely be dismissed. General manager Joe Schoen’s future, however, remains murkier.
The decision to stand pat rather than trade assets like wide receiver Jalin Hyatt or offensive lineman Evan Neal for future draft capital suggests the 46-year-old general manager isn’t a lock to return next season. If co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch had given him a vote of confidence, why wouldn’t he maximize assets for the 2026 NFL Draft? Perhaps ownership doesn’t want Schoen making long-term roster decisions if his job security remains in question.
Schoen and Daboll’s working relationship dates to their Buffalo Bills tenure from 2018-2021, and Schoen hired Daboll as New York’s head coach in January 2022. The belief has been their fates are intertwined. Their collective inaction at the deadline only reinforces that connection.
The 2025 season hasn’t offered many bright spots for the Giants, but rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart provides a glimmer of hope. He’s been fantastic since becoming the starter in Week 4.
Dart is among the favorites to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, having thrown for 1,175 yards with 10 touchdowns while adding five rushing scores. His stats would be even more impressive with a true No. 1 receiver.
When Malik Nabers was lost for the season with a torn ACL in September, so too were explosive plays from the receiver position. Although Nabers played in just four games this season, he’s currently second on the team in receiving yards with 271.
Many expected the team to pursue Jaylen Waddle, Chris Olave or Jakobi Meyers, who ended up getting traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the organization apparently believes Dart can thrive and develop with the current receiving corps without surrendering draft capital.
Plenty of questions surrounded New York’s roster entering the season, but both Schoen and Daboll expressed confidence in what they’d constructed. The team’s 2-7 record speaks for itself, and now ownership appears willing to let Schoen and Daboll try salvaging the roster they built.
Injuries are part of the reason why the team is struggling, but every team in the league is dealing with them at key positions. This is year four of the current regime, and the team has declined each season. Ownership is pleased they finally found their franchise quarterback, but they want to see other players develop.
Unlike 2017, when ownership fired head coach...
