Giants Rumors: NY Won't Hold 'Fire Sale' at Deadline amid Tate, Zeitler Buzz

The New York Giants might be 1-6 and sitting in last place in the NFC East, but they apparently aren't going to be big sellers ahead of the Nov. 3 NFL trade deadline.

The New York Post's Paul Schwartz reported the Giants won't stage a "fire sale" in the coming days.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the team was getting some outside interest in tight end Evan Engram. Albert Breer of The MMQB, meanwhile, reported that wide receiver Golden Tate and right guard Kevin Zeitler were "two names that came up pretty consistently with other teams."

Dealing Tate would be a sensible move, but Breer conceded his "contract and declining production could make him difficult to move for anything significant."

The 32-year-old carries a $10.4 million cap hit for 2020 and a $10.9 million hit for 2021 before entering the final year of his four-year, $37.5 million contract. That's a steep commitment for a player who's averaging 32.5 receiving yards through six appearances.

Even if Zeitler doesn't have a long-term future in New York, Schwartz argued holding onto the ninth-year lineman is in the Giants' best short-term interests:

"Is there a contending team out there in need of a veteran guard to plug-and-play willing to pay more than $5 million for the remainder of the season for Kevin Zeitler? The odds are not strong that Zeitler returns in 2021 for $12 million. But does anyone actually believe rookie Shane Lemieux right now would be comparable at right guard? Does it make any sense to weaken the line in front of Daniel Jones for the remaining nine games?

"'You don't want Jones killed,' an NFL talent evaluator said."

The calculus with Engram is similar to that of Tate.

Engram has yet to play a full season since the Giants selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. He seemed to be making progress in 2019, catching 44 passes for 467 yards and three touchdowns in eight games, but then suffered a foot injury that ultimately ended his year.

The evaluator quoted by Schwartz said a fourth- or fifth-round pick might be the extent of New York's return from trading Engram. At that point, the Giants might as well keep the 26-year-old since they already triggered his $6 million option for 2021.

One silver lining—if you can call it that—of the team's dreadful start is that it's so bad general manager Dave Gettleman has no reason to make shortsighted trades in an attempt to salvage any playoff hopes. That door is basically closed already.