Ian Rapoport Expects Giants to Be Aggressive on Key Trades
Updated: 21 hours ago
Published Nov 3, 2026, 3:59 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi
Key points
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport expects the Giants to be aggressive trading for a running back and an interior defensive lineman before the deadline.
The comment aired on ESPN's Big Day and matches John Harbaugh's public push to turn over every stone this week.
New York remains linked to Jonathan Taylor while the interior defensive line stays a clear need after Jeffery Simmons went to Chicago.
The Giants are not shopping quietly. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport expects New York to push hard for upgrades at running back and interior defensive line before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
"Ian Rapoport expects the Giants to be aggressive trading for a RB and an interior defensive lineman," we posted Tuesday, citing ESPN's Big Day (@BigDayESPN).
Rapoport's Aggressive Read Matches Harbaugh's Tone
Rapoport's line lands one day after John Harbaugh said the Giants are turning over every stone and making every call on available players.
Harbaugh also left a Titans owner voice message in a bid for Jeffery Simmons before Chicago landed him, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported. That outreach failed, but it showed how far the coach is willing to go.
Ian O'Connor said the motivation is there for New York to finish a deal. Rapoport is now naming the positions where that energy is pointed: running back and interior defensive line.
Where the Giants Sit on Both Positions
The running back market still centers on Jonathan Taylor. The Colts are in active talks, and New York has been named among the favorites. Indianapolis wants a return closer to the four-pick Christian McCaffrey package from 2022, ESPN reported.
Interior help is just as urgent. Art Stapleton called a defensive tackle the trade priority earlier this week, and the Giants missed on both DeForest Buckner and Simmons.
NFL.com wrote that all signs point to a splash before next Tuesday's deadline, with running back and defensive tackle as the clearest lanes.
Cheaper running back names such as Tony Pollard remain on the board if the Taylor price stays out of reach, as we covered. The shopping list is not a secret. Rapoport's word of the day is that New York will not sit on it.
By the Numbers: Giants Deadline Clock
Item | Detail |
Trade deadline | Nov. 10, 4 p.m. ET |
Days left (as of Nov. 3) | 7 |
Positions Rapoport flagged | Running back, interior DL |
Harbaugh stance | Turning over every stone |
Sources: Big Blue Film Room and ESPN, as of Nov. 3, 2026.
What Comes Next for the Giants
Seven days remain. Harbaugh wants a short-term and long-term win if draft capital is going out, he told reporters Monday, per ESPN.
That filter still leaves room for Taylor, who is under contract through 2028, and for a defensive tackle who can play beyond this season.
ESPN's Jordan Raanan already expects New York to be active. Rapoport's aggressive label raises the bar from "active" to finishing something at the two positions the Giants keep naming.
The next test is price. Can Joe Schoen clear a deal that fits Harbaugh's short-and-long test before the calendar eats the value of any addition?
Our Take: Aggressive Is the Right Word
I approve. That is the only word I needed when Rapoport said the Giants will be aggressive for a running back and an interior defensive lineman.
Coach Harbaugh is all in. He wants to make a deal. Aggressive is exactly how a first-place team should sound with seven days left on the clock.
If the Colts still want a McCaffrey-style package for Jonathan Taylor, you make the deal when the short-and-long fit is there. The same goes for an interior defensive lineman who can help now and next year.
I do not want New York to sit on a lead in the East and then watch the window close. Aggressive means finishing the call, not just making it.
Motivation without a close is just talk.
Harbaugh has already made the calls. Rapoport says they will push. Now the front office has to finish one.
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