NFL legend warns Giants amid trade rumors after Malik Nabers injury

Reports confirmed on Monday that New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers will miss the remainder of this season due to a torn ACL. He suffered the injury during the club's 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Meanwhile, some analysts have already named potential trade targets the Giants could pursue in Nabers' absence. 

During the latest edition of the "Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard" podcast, NFL icon and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald warned that the Giants shouldn't make a move for a big-name receiver before the trade deadline on Nov. 4. 

Giants must be realistic about what they are this fall 

"Do you see and look at the season as if this could be playoff year? You have to be honest and realistic about how you assess it," Fitzgerald explained. "And then you have to take into consideration, 'Do I want to go out and get a bona fide No. 1, a Calvin Ridley or Chris Olave, who may or may not fit with Malik Nabers once he comes back healthy?' You have to think about the dynamics."

A 2024 first-round draft pick, Nabers almost certainly will be rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart's top target for years to come. Meanwhile, the Giants are likely headed toward yet another losing season, even though the club improved to 1-3 when Dart made his first start in Week 4. 

Against the Chargers, Dart completed 13-of-20 pass attempts for just 111 yards with a touchdown on a shovel pass. He also recorded 54 rushing yards and a score on 10 carries. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Giants at +120 betting odds to finish the campaign with over 5.5 total victories. 

"Can you afford that from a cap perspective? You have to think about, 'Is this going to be somebody who’s going to come in and help us win a playoff spot right now?' And that doesn’t seem realistic, if I’m being honest," Fitzgerald added about the Giants possibly exploring a trade for a top-tier wideout. 

Larry Fitzgerald addresses how Malik Nabers should recover from setback

While a torn ACL is a serious setback, Fitzgerald seems confident that Nabers will be ready to go for Week 1 of the 2026 season. 

"Malik is 22 years old," Fitzgerald said during the podcast. "He’s a baby. He’s going to heal fast. ACLs, with the advance of surgeries, guys are able to bounce back. So it would be a surprise to me if he wouldn’t be ready for training camp to start the season." 

On Tuesday, Giants reporter Dan Duggan of The Athletic hinted that the club will give 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt one last shot "to get his career on track" following Nabers' injury. Hyatt hasn't yet seen a regular-season target since Week 1.