Giants ‘biggest winner’ from Jaguars trade

The New York Giants traded Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Baltimore Ravens lineman stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 380 pounds, making him one of the biggest players in NFL history. After joining the Giants this offseason, the mountain of a man worked primarily as a second-string guard.

However, preseason and training camp struggles made him expendable, and a Giants’ team without much draft capital next season was able to add a late-round pick that is presumed to be a seventh-rounder. The move opens up a roster spot for another guard to make the roster, too.

Evan Neal and Josh Ezeudu are candidates to move up the depth chart now. Neal was the seventh overall pick in 2022 as an offensive tackle, and while he has turned into a draft bust, he could be a valuable piece for the offensive interior now that he has switched positions. Ezeudu was a third-round pick in that same draft class and hasn’t seen much playing time over three seasons of action.

The biggest winner of the deal is Aaron Stinnie, though. Stinnie is the most proven backup guard on the roster, as he’s been in the league since 2018. His most productive season came in 2023 when he started 11 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The trade significantly increases Stinnie’s chances of making the 53-man roster.

Obviously, protecting Jaxson Dart is paramount in New York. The young quarterback has been hurt, suffered concussions, and been brought into the blue tent far too often during his young career, including in the Giants’ most recent preseason game. The team can’t afford their signal-caller to take anymore hits, and that starts with the offensive line.