Why Giants might be favorites to trade for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor as rumors heat up

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The New York Giants, sitting at 4-2-1 atop the NFC East, are in good shape to win the division. The Philadelphia Eagles are a mess; the Washington Commanders have one win entering Week 8, and the Dallas Cowboys are underwhelming.

With a real chance of winning the division, even with someone like J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, the Giants should feel comfortable enough to act as trade deadline buyers. And recently, they've emerged as a serious Jonathan Taylor suitor.

But it's more than just being linked as a landing spot for Taylor. Jonathan Jones of The Athletic named the Giants and Minnesota Vikings as the "favorites" to land Taylor. But due to one issue for the Vikings, the Giants might actually be the favorite to land Taylor.

Why Giants might be favorites to land Jonathan Taylor

"The Vikings and Giants appear to be the favorites to land him if he's dealt, but he can't fit under Minnesota's cap right now," Jones reports.

There's no telling whether the Giants would actually be willing to spend the massive amount of draft capital needed to land Taylor, which would likely consist of a second-round pick and a good amount more on top of it.

But with the Vikings, the other "favorite" for Taylor, having a problem with their cap space situation, the Giants might be the natural landing spot for Taylor.

They do sit in first place in the NFC East, have gotten some very encouraging play from their offense even without Jaxson Dart, and their defense has turned a corner as well, with Arvell Reese and Abdul Carter coming into their own.

MORE: NFL insiders reveal four landing spots for Colts’ Jonathan Taylor

Plus, with the Giants seemingly not in love with Cam Skattebo, John Harbaugh could convince the front office and ownership to splurge on someone as talented as Taylor.

It wouldn't be a one-year rental either, so the Giants could land Taylor and have him for the rest of 2026 as they try to win the division and go on a playoff run, and still have him for the next year or so.

Tyrone Tracy was just placed on IR, and Najee Harris was cut somewhat recently. They are on their bye right now, but for Week 9 coming out of the bye, or Week 10 at the trade deadline, landing Taylor would make sense for the Giants.

They've become a legitimate suitor for Taylor, and with this report from Jones indicating the Vikings, the other favorite for Taylor, have a problem, the Giants might become the true favorite to land the superstar Colts RB this season.