Despite all the chatter, all was quiet in East Rutherford, N.J., as the 4 p.m. ET NFL trade deadline passed Tuesday without any activity from the New York Giants, who were neither buyers nor sellers.

Only three weeks ago, standing pat seemed unlikely, as the Giants were coming off a huge prime-time win over the division rival Philadelphia Eagles and seemed poised to turn a corner behind the heroics of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. After losing star receiver Malik Nabers for the season to an ACL tear, rumors swirled about adding a top receiving talent to help Dart’s development, especially after the victory over Philadelphia moved the Giants a little closer to playoff contention.

They carried that momentum of that victory into Denver and should have come away with a win. Instead, they suffered a historic meltdown, allowing the Broncos to pull off a miraculous comeback that put the kibosh on the Giants’ good vibes. Two dismal showings, along with a season-ending injury for top rusher Cam Skattebo, have followed. The Giants are now amid a three-game losing streak and have dropped to 2-7 for the third season in a row.

And here’s the recording to yesterday’s live room, where I continued my streak of saying I’m not that fired up … and then 20 minutes later found myself launching into an eight-minute rant on the state of the franchise: https://t.co/BzVbMrIPcc

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) November 4, 2025

That record put the Giants in somewhat of a tricky spot at the deadline. Obviously, a 2-7 team wouldn’t traditionally be buyers at the trade deadline. However, the embattled regime of GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll needs to win to keep their jobs for a fifth season. And sure, finding help for Dart is a nice idea, in theory, but the reality is this is still a team without any realistic playoff hopes. They couldn’t afford to break the bank for anyone, and, unsurprisingly, the price to land a top talent who would fit the long-term outlook was rich. SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that the Miami Dolphins were looking for a first-round pick in exchange for WR Jaylen Waddle, who probably made the most sense for the Giants of the receivers considered to be available at the deadline.

But for the Giants, sitting at 2-7, that 2026 first-round pick is on track to be a top-10 selection. So, while the idea of supporting Dart with a new receiving threat had merit, it didn’t really make sense to mortgage the future, either. It’s also worth mentioning that if ownership is thinking about making a change at GM and head coach, it probably doesn’t make sense to allow the current regime to part with significant draft capital on their way out the door.

On the other end of the spectrum, when it came to selling notable assets, that never seemed likely, either. Again, Schoen and Daboll need to win, so moving on from a player like Kayvon Thibodeaux didn’t make much sense. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Giants told inquiring teams the cost for Thibodeaux would be a first-round pick — a sign they weren’t seriously entertaining the idea of trading him.

Even parting with some less notable pieces didn’t materialize despite chatter leading into the deadline. Both offensive lineman Evan Neal and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt are still on New York’s roster. Neal, a 2022 first-rounder, has endured a disappointing and frustrating career in New York. This offseason, he transitioned from tackle to guard but failed to earn a starting job in training camp. He was active for the first time all season this past Sunday (with numerous starters out due to injuries), but he didn’t take a snap.

“I mean, that’s out of my control,” Neal said on Sunday when asked if New York was still a place he wanted to be. “I was drafted here as the seventh overall pick. I’m grateful and thankful for that. At this point, whatever happens come the deadline, I welcome it.”

Hyatt, meanwhile, has also struggled since the franchise traded up to select him in the third round of the 2023 draft. In six games this season, he’s tallied just three receptions for 17 yards. On Sunday, he played a new role, serving as the Giants’ kickoff returner. He averaged 27.8 yards on four returns.

“Whatever this team wants me to be, I’ll be that,” Hyatt said Sunday. “Whatever happens, happens. … I love to be here. I love to make plays for this team. That’s the biggest thing is I want to make plays. And to make plays, you got to be put in position to do that.”

The Giants will have to figure out how to use the players already in position for the remainder of the season. Next up is a road trip to Chicago on Sunday to face the 5-3 Bears.