You can’t fake desperation, but the New York Giants are sure giving it a shot. Brian Daboll’s squad is fresh out of reliable receivers. With another cross-country flight ahead, the front office isn’t urgently searching the market like rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s future depends on it.

“Despite the loss of Malik Nabers, the Giants aren’t aggressively working the phones to add talent at receiver right now,” Russini wrote.

Malik Nabers is out for the season with a knee injury. Meanwhile, Darius Slayton is struggling with a hamstring strain, and league insider Dianna Russini didn’t hold back on saying the quiet part out loud. What Daboll needs right now is another win, because the head coach’s seat is already on fire with the past performances.

Pair all that with: when on the road, the offense hasn’t strung together back-to-back wins since 2023. Help isn’t walking through that door in time for Dart before Sunday’s kickoff. And the injury list is just adding to the struggles.

LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, LB Swayze Bozeman, DL Chauncey Golston, and C John Michael Schmitz Jr. will all miss the Denver trip. Even offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo will be watching from home. Suddenly, opinions split in multiple directions.

Some beat reporters are clinging to trade hope. SNY’s Connor Hughes claims, “Sources: Giants aggressive in pursuit of adding a receiver before trade deadline, believed to be ‘big game hunting.’”

Big names like Chris Olave, Jaylen Waddle, and Jakobi Meyers have been tossed around, but there’s a Grand Canyon-wide gap between ‘sources say’ and actually picking up a phone. But a recent contract move signaled that the front office may be ready to make some moves.

How the Giants’ cap space could shape their receiver search

On October 15, the Giants shook loose $4.8 million in cap space by restructuring CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland’s contracts, Field Yates reported. It’s the first sign of front office life anyone’s seen since the sun set on Nabers’ season.

“An influx of talent at the position could maximize Dart’s progress,” Hughes explained. “General manager Joe Schoen, sources say, is trying to make that happen.” But as trade deadline buzz cools, insiders say the market isn’t exactly brimming with deals.

As one coach told Russini, “There are plenty of teams with needs. Just not enough willing to give up good players.”

Right now, Brian Daboll is playing a cautious game, waiting for the right offer rather than accepting just any band-aid fix. That’s a gamble that could make or break Dart’s rookie season. Injuries and thin depth have exposed holes up front and on defense, making this decision a delicate balancing act.