The New York Giants are running out of answers at wide receiver, and the timing couldn’t be worse. With star wideout Malik Nabers lost for the season and Darius Slayton battling a hamstring injury, the Giants’ offense suddenly feels stripped of its rhythm and firepower. What’s left is a patchwork unit of undrafted players and mid-tier options trying to keep the team afloat, but that can only last so long before the ceiling drops.
General manager Joe Schoen has a few potential lifelines ahead of the trade deadline, but none come without risk or cost.
The trade market options
Names like Chris Olave and Jakobi Meyers could immediately reshape the Giants’ offense, but both would come at a steep price. Olave is one of the most talented young receivers in the league, though his concussion history makes him a risky long-term investment. Meyers, meanwhile, brings reliability and route-running savvy, but his contract complicates things for a team already managing a tight cap situation.
That leaves the Giants in an awkward middle ground — they need help but can’t afford to overreach. Which is why a different name, one slightly under the radar, could make sense.
Why Adonai Mitchell makes sense
Indianapolis Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell might just be the kind of swing-for-upside target Schoen should explore. Still only 22 years old, Mitchell has all the physical traits of a future playmaker. The problem is, he hasn’t yet put them all together at the professional level.
Through six games this season, Mitchell has just seven catches for 137 yards. His playing time has dipped recently after a costly mistake — dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line, a mental lapse that landed him in head coach Shane Steichen’s doghouse. It was the kind of moment that tests a player’s focus, but it could also open a small window for a team like the Giants to buy low.
Last year, Mitchell managed 312 yards on 23 receptions with a 45.1% catch rate, showing flashes but lacking consistency. Still, his combination of size, speed, and age make him an intriguing target for a franchise desperate to inject life into its passing game.
What a deal could look like
Mitchell isn’t going to be cheap. As a recent second-round pick, Indianapolis still values his long-term upside. The Giants might need to part with draft capital — or potentially dangle a young player such as cornerback Deonte Banks — to get the Colts’ attention. That’s not an easy call for Schoen, but the front office has to weigh the immediate need to support Jaxson Dart with viable playmakers against the long-term cost.
Urgency before the deadline
The Giants’ season won’t wait for the receiving corps to figure itself out. The November 4 trade deadline looms, and Schoen has a few weeks left to find someone who can raise the floor of this offense.
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Mitchell represents both a gamble and a possible reward. He’s raw, but the upside is real — and at 22, there’s still plenty of time for him to mature into the kind of difference-maker New York has been searching for.
Sometimes, the right move isn’t the splashy one. It’s the calculated risk that gives a struggling team just enough spark to change its season.