Four players can deal Giants

When you heard Giants owner John Mara say he had no plans to make any changes at the head coaching and general manager positions, Joe Schoen probably heard an OK to become a trade deadline seller.

Mara's recent vow to be more patient than in the past takes some of the pressure off Schoen to act out of self-preservation.

It's short-sighted to retain influential players in the hopes of eking out one or two more meaningless wins to show enough “improvements” to bolster job security.

The Giants are 2-6 (or worse) at halftime for the seventh time in eight seasons. None of the previous six resulted in more than six wins.

Therefore, the Giants should think long-term as the NFL trade deadline approaches on November 5th. Schoen mistakenly retained Saquon Barkley and

The problem, however, is that the Giants don't have trade chips as valuable as Williams, Barkley or McKinney this season. Here are four players who could be dealt a fifth-, sixth-, or seventh-round draft pick or pick swap and return them.

WR Darius Slayton

Three receivers (Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Diontae Johnson) have been traded in the last two weeks, but there are still plenty of contenders – Steelers, 49ers, Buccaneers and Chargers – looking for help. Other options that could be on the market include Courtland Sutton, Kendrick Bourne and Mike Williams.

Slayton is linked to potential trades every October, but never has it made more sense to part ways than now. He is in the final year of his contract and is unlikely to sign as a free agent for the second time in his career, especially if his long-time running mate Daniel Jones is released in the offseason.

After his reluctance resulted in minor contract wins in the spring, Slayton changed agents and prepared for his big break.

The Giants need to get a clearer assessment of 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt, who has blistering speed but has completely disappeared this season behind Slayton and rookie Malik Nabers (one catch).

Trading Slayton, 27, would save about $1.8 million in salary but remove one of the locker room's most popular teammates and a veteran well versed in playing hard in tough times.

OLB Azeez Ojulari

It would be easier to accept backup starter Ojulari if Kayvon Thibodeaux (broken scaphoid bone in wrist) was healthy — or if there were signs he could be back before the first week of December, at the high end of his estimated recovery timeline.

The 24-year-old Ojulari has recorded five sacks in three games since becoming a starter, matching his 2021 and 2022 form (13.5 sacks in 24 games). He's been hampered by injuries throughout his career and can be a liability on the runway, but he's perfect for chasing quarterbacks as the No. 3 rusher for a contender in need like the Lions, Falcons or Bills.

Ojulari is a free agent after the season and is the last player on the roster not signed or re-signed by Schoen.

But are the Giants willing to name Tomon Fox or Benton Whitley as the starter while Thibodeaux is sidelined?

OT Evan Neal

The Giants will do just about anything to avoid putting the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft on the field. Neal's fall into oblivion began last year with an ankle injury that was much worse than originally diagnosed.

The offseason hope that a new offensive line coach could unlock the 24-year-old Neal has not been realized.

There's still no plan to move him to left tackle – a position Neal played as a junior at Alabama and where the Giants are starting Chris Hubbard on the practice squad – or to guard, leaving him to simply fade away as a backup right tackle.

There was a time when Neal — who allowed 81 pressures and 10 sacks in 20 career games — was on his way to being No. 1. Would any team with a good draft grade take a look at improving his balance, footwork and other issues?

It would simply be a fresh start for both parties, as the Giants would face a $3.8 million dead cap hit in 2025 with minor immediate savings.

RB Devin Singletary

Whenever he goes through the concussion protocol, rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. has earned the right to be the primary ball carrier after rushing for more than 125 yards twice and averaging more than seven per carry in four games.

Singletary, 27, received a three-year, $16.5 million contract to replace Barkley because Schoen doesn't believe in overpaying running backs based on their positional value.

Now Schoen has a backup running back who is guaranteed an additional $1.25 million this season and $3.5 million next season.

Could the rival Giants and Cowboys, who were working together when defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was sent to Dallas for a late-round pick in August, make a second trade in three months?