Could New York Giants Trade Dwayne Harris?
Could the New York Giants trade wide receiver Dwayne Harris prior to the NFL Trade Deadline?
The New York Giants picked up a victory in London over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. They now head into the bye week with a 4-3 record and chance to evaluate their roster for the remainder of the season.
With the NFL Trade Deadline less than a week away, the Giants could use this as an opportunity to tweak their roster. They could look to aide spots hit by injuries, such as the offensive line and safety. The Giants have also learned a lot about the roster they currently have through seven games, so they could look to move some players at one position to help at another.
One of the players they could look to move is wide receiver/special teamer, Dwayne Harris. Harris was pressed into playing wide receiver last season more than ever in his career because of injuries. He responded well, putting up career-high numbers across the board with 36 receptions, 396 yards and four touchdowns.
The Giants upgraded the wide receiver spot this offseason and Harris has seen his playing time diminish to basically zero. The Giants selected Sterling Shepard with their second round pick and got Victor Cruz back from injury. Tavarres King earned a roster spot with a strong summer and preseason and Roger Lewis Jr. has emerged as well.
More from Empire Writes Back
This leaves Harris as only a special teams player and someone that could be expendable for the Giants. He is a very good special teams player, but the Giants have other people they can turn to in the return game; Bobby Rainey has NFL experience doing it, while Odell Beckham Jr. and Shepard have experience as well.
Because of that, Jordan Ranaan of ESPN believes Harris could be traded by the Giants. Ranaan is part of ESPN’s NFL Nation, and each correspondent picked a player they believe could be traded prior to the November 1st deadline. Here is what he had to say about trading Harris.
Harris has been banged up and hasn’t been used at all as a wide receiver this season. He has been exclusively a special teamer. With Bobby Rainey capable of being a kick/punt returner, maybe another team would want Harris to jumpstart its return game and help its special teams. Harris is a useful piece, though he would come at a hefty price through 2019.
The Giants signed Harris to a lucrative five-year, $17.5 million contract with $7.1 million guaranteed. For a player that predominantly plays special teams, that was a lot of money to hand out. But, he has shown that he can play receiver adequately if given the chance.
That could be a selling point for the Giants, as Harris has become a spare part on their roster. He is still a very good special team player, especially as a gunner, but the Giants could use help at other positions. If the Giants could land depth at another position, or another draft pick, moving Harris could be worthwhile.
The Giants have built solid depth at wide receiver, so Harris won’t see the field there unless there are multiple injuries ahead of him on the depth chart. If they feel they can replace him on special teams, then trying to move him makes sense. That contract could be a hurdle, though, so it could be difficult for the Giants to move Harris.
But if a team comes calling, the Giants certainly have to listen, especially if it will not cost the Giants any future assets.