The New York Giants are cruising into their bye week with a stellar 4-2-1 record, sitting alone in first place in the NFC East, which is wild considering the injuries they have battled. But do not let that shiny record fool you. Their front seven has taken some absolutely brutal hits, and it is getting worse.
The Front Seven Is Battered, Bruised, and Barely Breathing
This Giants team has fought through so much just to get to 4-2-1. Star pass rusher Brian Burns went down earlier this season. Then, just this past week, they put Chauncey Golston and Tremaine Edmunds on injured reserve, losing both of them for the rest of the year. This is on top of starting the season already thin on the interior defensive line after trading away Dexter Lawrence II and then losing Roy Robertson-Harris to a torn Achilles. It is a full-blown crisis, honestly. New York has patched things up with veterans like Shelby Harris and DJ Reader, but here is the kicker: the only Giants defensive tackle with a sack this season is CJ Okoye. Think about that for a second. Your first-place team has one interior lineman getting to the quarterback. That is not sustainable, no way.
Bring Back the OG: Dalvin Tomlinson Is on the Block
With the trade deadline of November 10 looming, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell floated a potential move that just makes too much sense: a reunion with Dalvin Tomlinson. Remember him? He started his career in New York after they drafted him in the second round back in 2017, spending his first four seasons there. Now, he is with the Los Angeles Chargers, who are a brutal 0-6. They are clearly open for business, and Tomlinson is a pending free agent due $2.1 million for the rest of 2026. The proposed trade is a steal, too: Giants get Tomlinson and a 2028 seventh-round pick, while the Chargers get a 2028 sixth-rounder. He is 32 now, and maybe not the same “interior disrupter” from his earlier days, but this guy had an 18-knockdown season just two years ago in 2024 with the Browns. He has still got juice, people.
Why a 32-Year-Old Veteran Is EXACTLY What They Need
So, why Tomlinson? He is experienced, he knows the city, and he could step right into a rotational role, playing about 35-40% of defensive snaps. Even a modest contribution from him would be huge for this Giants defensive line that desperately needs depth inside. They have limited draft assets for 2027, but general manager Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh have already shown they are willing to pull the trigger for talent, like trading for J.J. McCarthy last month. While other defensive line options like Khalil Mack or DeForest Buckner (who just went to the 49ers) were out there, Tomlinson offers the most cost-effective way to fix a gaping hole. He would be moving from a team completely out of the playoff picture to a legitimate contender, and that fire, that drive to win, would be invaluable.
The trade deadline is November 10. The Giants are 4-2-1 and leading their division. Are they going to sit on their hands while their defensive line is a ticking time bomb, or are they going to make the move that could solidify their interior and keep this wild ride going? This feels like an absolute no-brainer. They need him. Now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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