Giants part ways with RB Najee Harris amid trade whispers regarding Colts' Jonathan Taylor

Less than 24 hours after New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh made it known he wanted one of his running backs to "do something" and step up to be the team’s bell cow ball-carrier, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and others revealed on Tuesday that the Giants were releasing veteran back Najee Harris.

The Harris move came one day after Indianapolis Colts team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon confirmed that she had fired general manager Chris Ballard. On Tuesday, Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media suggested that Harbaugh could tell Giants general manager Joe Schoen to call the Colts about a possible trade for star running back Jonathan Taylor.

Jonathan Taylor could be an answer for John Harbaugh

"Before this season, Taylor signed a two-year extension with the Colts," Slater wrote. "He is under contract through 2028, with a $15M salary coming in 2027. Harbaugh considered signing Kenneth Walker this past offseason. He surely would’ve drafted Jeremiyah Love if the Cardinals hadn’t taken him at No. 3. Harbaugh wants a clear-cut No. 1 back, like he had in Baltimore with Derrick Henry. Those are not easy to find."

Irsay-Gordon's firing of Ballard indicates that the 2-4 Colts could become sellers before the NFL trade deadline arrives on Nov. 10. As for Taylor, ESPN stats show he ended Week 6 of the campaign ranked sixth in the league with 492 rushing yards, second with 122 rushing attempts and tied for second with seven rushing touchdowns. 

No disrespect meant to Cam Skattebo, the Giants' Week 1 RB1 who recently received a demotion, but Taylor would certainly be an upgrade at the position for Big Blue through 2028.

Why Giants may, may not trade for Jonathan Taylor

The 3-2-1 Giants are atop the NFC East standings at a time when the rest of the division is a mess. The 2-4 Dallas Cowboys have performed more like pretenders than contenders this fall, and the 2-4 Philadelphia Eagles will be without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts (blood clots) for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, the 1-4-1 Washington Commanders could seemingly fire head coach Dan Quinn at any point. 

That said, the Giants will be starting a backup quarterback -- either Jameis Winston or J.J. McCarthy -- through the end of the season after Jaxson Dart went down with a campaign-ending knee injury in September. Thus, now may not be the time for the Giants to give up future draft assets for a running back. 

The Giants next play at the 2-4 Houston Texans on Oct. 25. Perhaps the outcome of that game will determine whether or not Taylor becomes a legitimate option for New York during the club's Week 8 bye.