The Giants don’t have to look any further than the opposite sideline Sunday against the Lions for a reminder of dismantling a losing team at the NFL trade deadline.
Damon Harrison was shipped to the Lions for a fifth-round draft pick a year ago Thursday, just before the deadline last year. Eli Apple was dealt to the Saints for two draft picks one day earlier, right after a loss to the Falcons.
Landon Collins, who was on the cusp of free agency, discovered he was not in the Giants’ long-term plans, even though they turned down acquiring a fourth-round draft pick for him.
Now, Nate Solder is the subject of trade speculation. The Browns reportedly are interested, but Solder told The Post he wants to stay put. Janoris Jenkins is the next-most logical candidate to be moved.
“I don’t know where that information comes from,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “We certainly try not to respond that. I don’t know anything about any of the information out there. I think we all know in this business, right before the trade line, things get said, things get written. We tell the guys to stay in the moment and don’t worry about it.”
The Giants just signed veteran inside linebacker Deone Bucannon, who quickly will compete to start. That’s a win-now move.
Shurmur is 7-16 during his Giants tenure and co-owner John Mara previously said he wants to feel certain after this season the franchise is headed in the right direction. At 2-5, coming off a loss as rare favorites to the Cardinals, the Giants are running short on time to show marked improvement.
“I don’t know the buying/selling thing,” Shurmur said. “I think you’re always looking to upgrade. That’s where we’re at roster-wise. It’s a matter of record we made major changes to the roster in the last two years. We’re very young. We’ve got a lot of young players playing. That’s just the reality of it.”
Ten of the Giants’ regular 22 starters are age 28 or older, so most of the first-, second- and third-year players are in backup roles or on special teams. Only 10 players of the 73 on the roster, practice squad, injured reserve and suspended lists pre-date Shurmur’s arrival in January 2018.
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