New York Giants Eyeing Running Back, Defensive Tackle Trades After Daron Payne Talks Ended

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coming out of their bye week atop the NFC East at 4-2-1, the New York Giants have spent the final days before the trade deadline hunting for a running back or a defensive tackle, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday.

Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday that he left a voicemail for Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk about defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons before Tennessee traded him to the Chicago Bears for multiple first-round picks, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported.

“I did, I did,” Harbaugh said. “I left a message because you’re turning over every stone, going to try everything. I mean, I’ll put it out there, man. We’re open for any call. Anybody who wants to call us or call anybody, call.”

People across the Giants organization make calls at every level, Harbaugh said, and they all know about the calls each other are making.

“We’re not part of any secret society oath that says you can only talk to somebody. We’re not in that. We didn’t get memo’d on that,” Harbaugh explained. “We’re not in that agreement. So, like I said, anybody can call us.”

Daron Payne Injury Ended Giants’ Intra-Division Talks

Talks with the Washington Commanders about defensive tackle Daron Payne ended when Payne broke his left foot in practice last week. Washington placed him on injured reserve.

Earlier this week on ESPN’s Big Day show, Rapoport said the Giants want to add a defensive tackle before Tuesday.

“Daron Payne was someone they liked and had talks about, and then he broke his foot in practice and that deal was off,” Rapoport said.

Washington drafted Payne 13th overall out of Alabama in 2018. His career-high 11.5 sacks came in 2022, the season he made the Pro Bowl. The following March, he signed a four-year, $90 million extension that runs through this season.

The teams tied 27-27 in overtime in Week 5, when Payne recorded his only sack of the season against New York. They meet Thursday again in Week 10 at MetLife Stadium.

Jonathan Taylor Interest Comes With Draft-Pick Limits

At running back, Cam Skattebo was working on the side with a hamstring injury at Monday’s practice, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. was recently placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury of his own.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is another target, sources told ESPN. In his column Saturday, The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones named New York and the Minnesota Vikings as the favorites to land him.

Indianapolis is sitting on an offer of a second-round pick and more for Taylor, who signed a two-year, $44 million extension in August. The Colts have sought something closer to the second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks the San Francisco 49ers sent the Carolina Panthers for Christian McCaffrey in 2022.

General manager Joe Schoen said last week that any move has to make sense for the short term and long term. Harbaugh repeated that standard Monday.

“You want to have a short-term and a long-term win if you’re going to do it with draft capital,” Harbaugh said.

New York holds only five picks in the 2027 draft and would prefer to deal 2028 selections if possible, according to ESPN.

“Yeah, it’s easier to put it on the credit card,” Harbaugh said. “It’s always an easier spend.”

The Giants’ locker room has heard about the team’s interest in Simmons and Taylor.

“It’s a players’ league,” veteran offensive tackle Andrew Thomas said. “Anytime you have an opportunity to acquire whoever the player may be, the thought is that they’ll help our team win. And our goal is to win games.”

On Sunday, the Giants play at the Philadelphia Eagles, who start former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III. The trade deadline is 3 p.m. CT Tuesday.