Giants’ Joe Judge open to buying at trade deadline: ‘I always think long-term’

The 2021 NFL trade deadline is exactly one week away and with a 2-5 record through seven games, you would think the New York Giants would be sellers.

You would think wrong.

Giants head coach Joe Judge told reporters on Monday that he’s open to buying at the trade deadline even though that may seem counterproductive. Why, you may ask? Because he’s always thinking “long-term.”

“I always think long-term. Sometimes, long-term can come in a move you can make immediately at this point, but I’m always thinking long-term. I’ve said this from the beginning, I’m not about taking shortcuts into anything. I’ve made it very clear in terms of my vision of the team and where I want to build it,” Judge said. “It’s being built for long-term success.

“I have a lot of faith in the people we have in this program right now, but ultimately my vision always goes long-term. I’m always looking at — just for everyone listening, I’m always looking at not only what our depth chart is now, but what does it look like at the end of this year, beginning of next year, what does it look like two years from now? Whether you’re going through free agency, trades, draft, whatever it may be, to me, you’re always looking down the road in terms of not where you are immediately, but where do you have to get to. That’s my perspective on that.”

Don’t panic just yet, Giants fans. A long-term vision doesn’t immediately make the Giants buyers. They could sell in an effort to stockpile additional draft assets, too.

“We’ll see. It’s definitely the time of year everyone starts making a lot of phone calls,” Judge said. “There’s been potential and opportunities for trades going in, coming out, however it’s been the entire time since the season has been going, so sometimes people manufacture too much at the trade deadline.

“I know a lot of teams kind of rush to make final moves. We’ll obviously talk about a number of phone calls that we’ll be getting throughout the week, but I wouldn’t say we’re absolutely anticipating doing anything. Would say those conversations will run from now through the remainder of the week.”

Whether the Giants buy, sell, do both or neither, it will certainly be an interesting week in East Rutherford. “Trader” Dave Gettleman will be on the horn, so who knows what will happen — anything is possible.

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