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NFL Trade Rumors: Which players could help the New York Giants?

Let's talk trade rumors with the deadline coming on Tuesday.

By Ed Valentine
Barkevious Mingo makes a tackle
Barkevious Mingo makes a tackle
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The 2015 NFL Trade Deadline arrives on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. As trade rumors swirl, are there any players available who could help the New York Giants? Let's take a look.

Let's face it. The Giants are defensively challenged. After Sunday's shredding for 614 total yards and 52 points by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints the Giants are last in the league in yardage allowed, giving up 428.2 yards per game. They are last in sacks with nine, the only team in the league non in double digits. They are last in the league against the pass, giving up 316.1 yards per game. They are 13th against the run giving up 112.1 yards per game, largely because teams don't really have to bother running very much.

They need help. They should be getting some when Jason Pierre-Paul, Prince Amukamara, Jon Beason and J.T. Thomas III return to the lineup. Of course, we don't really know when any of those players will be back, but they will help whenever they do return.

In the meantime, let's look at who might be on the market.

Cleveland Browns targets

The down-trodden Browns reportedly have several players available. All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas is among them, but let's focus on the defensive players the Browns may be willing to move.

Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo was Cleveland's first-round pick in 2013. The 6-foot-4, 241-pound outside linebacker has never lived up to being the sixth overall pick. He does, however, have seven sacks in 38 career games, including 16 starts. Mingo is still on his rookie contract.

Linebacker Paul Kruger is a seven-year veteran who has started 39 of the 40 games he has played for the Browns. Kruger is in the third year of a five-year, $40.5 million deal.

Problem with both of these players is that Cleveland plays a 3-4. Kruger also played in a 3-4 with the Baltimore Ravens. Mingo did play in a 4-3 collegiately at LSU.

Chicago Bears targets

Bears outside linebacker Willie Young has reportedly requested a trade to a 4-3 team. The Bears, now coached by John Fox, have transitioned fo a 3-4. The 30-year-old Young has 10 sacks last season for Chicago playing as a traditional 4-3 defensive end. Young is in the second year of his three-year, $9 million contract that included $3.95 million guaranteed. He is set to make base salaries of $2.45 million in each of the next two seasons.

Perhaps the Martellus Bennett rumors will heat up again with Larry Donnell of the Giants having suffered an injury Sunday. Again, though, it makes more sense to me to use whatever resources the Giants have to bolster their defense.

Vinny Curry

The Eagles are reportedly shopping linebacker Vinny Curry. The fourth-year linebacker had nine sacks for the Eagles last season and would probably fit better in New York's 4-3 as a defensive end than he does in Philly's 3-4, but there is no chance the Eagles trade the four-year veteran to the Giants.

What about trading away Damontre Moore?

The possibility of the Giants looking to cut their losses with Moore, who committed yet another penalty on Sunday, has to be discussed. Tom Coughlin and the Giants have to be at the end of their rope with Moore. With Pierre-Paul near a return, the Giants will need a roster spot. What about the idea of trading Moore to create that roster spot, and getting a late-round pick in return?

I'm not advocating it. I haven't heard it rumored anywhere. I'm just tossing it out there and wondering if the Giants would consider it.

Final Thoughts

I'm sure my list of targets isn't complete. I also have serious doubts anything will actually happen. Take this tweet to heart:

Remember something else. You have to draft well to build a real winner in the NFL. Whether the Giants have done that is debatable, and also an argument for another day. They have already dealt away a seventh-round pick for punter Brad Wing, however, so they are likely to be reluctant to give up any more picks in the upcoming draft.

Thus, don't expect anything to happen. It is, however, fun to talk about. So, go ahead and do that.

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[UPDATE 5:21 p.m. ET:]

If you were hoping tight end Vernon Davis would be a Giant, that isn't going to happen.

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