The New York Giants made headlines earlier on Thursday when they traded 2021 first-round pick Kadarius Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But even before the Giants traded Toney, rumors were circulating that they might be interested in going out and getting help at wide receiver. Denver Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy has been raised as a possible Giants target in recent days.
There have been reports of interest in Jeudy from across the NFL. The former 15th overall pick was considered one of the top receivers in the 2020 NFL draft and has significant advantages despite the slow start to his career. And while reporters in Denver have said the Broncos have no plans to move Jeudy at this time, that doesn’t mean they can’t change their minds.
Aside from Denver’s (potential) reluctance to trade Jeudy, there are a few stumbling blocks to overcome. The first would be the potential trade offset. While the Giants acquired a compensatory third-round pick for Toney, Jeudy could command a second-round pick if the Broncos see him as a potential long-term asset for Russell Wilson. That price might be too high for the Giants looking to build through the draft.
That price could even go up if teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, or Philadelphia Eagles decide to go after Jeudy.
The other consideration is the ever-present specter of the salary cap.
The Giants only have about $3.2 million in cap space as of this writing (per OverTheCap), and acquiring Jeudy would also mean earning his $1.9 million fully guaranteed salary. While the Giants could afford it, they would have little leeway to treat injuries that could arise in the final nine games of the season. While trading Kadarius Toney has realized some salary cap relief, it’s only about $800,000.
The Giants have an obvious need for wide receivers, and we could see Joe Schoen turning to the trade market for help now. In addition to Jeudy, there are a number of recipients that are brought up as possible options, such as DJ Moore, Chase Claypool or Elijah Moore.
The Broncos had one of the most surprising starts in the NFL, plummeting to an embarrassing 2-5 record after taking on Russell Wilson in the offseason. They’ve reportedly received “competitive” trade offers for EDGE Bradley Chubb and a loss this weekend could trigger a fire sale ahead of a roster rebuild.
To be clear, there are no concrete reports on Giants’ plans as of the close of trading. However, the chatter is getting loud enough that we should at least take notice.