Giants GM Joe Schoen eyes Jonathan Taylor and other moves before deadline

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is positioning his team to make major acquisitions before the NFL trade deadline on November 10. The Giants currently lead the NFC East by three games over the Dallas Cowboys. They are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders in the next two weeks. If they win those games, they could secure a strong hold on the division title.

Schoen has the opportunity to strengthen a roster that has improved under head coach John Harbaugh. The team still has gaps in the backfield and on both lines. A successful trade would shift the Giants from a mid-season surprise to a serious contender for the playoffs.

The primary target is running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor is widely considered one of the best players at his position. The Colts are preparing for a potential fire sale after trading offensive lineman Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Reports indicate the Giants are among the most active teams looking to sign a running back, alongside the Minnesota Vikings.

Acquiring Taylor would require a large package of draft picks. He would join Cam Skattebo in the backfield to support quarterback JJ McCarthy. This combination would address the team's need for a reliable ground game.

Another option is Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans. Pollard offers consistency that has been missing since Saquon Barkley left the team. He is on pace for his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season. In the first eight games of this year, he has carried the ball for 595 yards and scored six touchdowns.

The cost for Pollard may be a fourth or fifth-round pick. The Giants do not currently have those picks available. They sent a fourth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns to move up for Malachi Fields in the spring. They later traded their fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings to acquire McCarthy.

Defensive tackle Grover Stewart of the Colts is also on the radar. With DeForest Buckner gone to the San Francisco 49ers, Stewart is drawing interest. PFF data shows he has 17 solo tackles against the run, which ranks tenth among all defensive tackles in the league. Because the Giants lack high draft capital, a trade involving a sixth-round pick might be feasible.

The Giants defense ranks 28th in the NFL in yards allowed per carry. Interior depth is a priority. Dalvin Tomlinson of the Los Angeles Chargers is a lower-cost alternative. The 32-year-old is due to make $1.80 million this season before entering free agency. He has recorded 10 combined tackles and half a sack in five games for Los Angeles.