After taking four starters from the Giants in free agency, the Robert Saleh- and Brian Daboll-led Titans might finally give something back in the draft.
There is strong belief around the league that the Giants would be open to making a small trade down from No. 5 to acquire more second-, third- and fourth-round draft picks because they currently are off the board from No. 38 until No. 105.
And the surest way the phone will ring with offers is if one of the two premier edge rushers — Arvell Reese or David Bailey — is still available after the Titans pick at No. 4.
The likeliest path for that to happen involves the Jets picking one edge or the other (The Post’s prediction is Reese), the Cardinals taking running back Jeremiyah Love and the Titans going with linebacker Sonny Styles over an edge.
Ring! Ring!
Three NFL sources asked by The Post said Bailey would drum up more trade interest because he is a plug-and-play pass rusher (who needs to improve against the run), while one said Reese because of his versatility (despite being considered more of a projection).
Of course, it is possible that the Giants would stand pat and pick Bailey or Reese — the organization’s decades-old philosophy is you can never have too many pass rushers — while maybe jointly trading edge Kayvon Thibodeaux’s $14.75 million salary for a mid-round pick.
Which teams make sense as a trade partner at No. 5? And what might the return be?
Saints (No. 8): A replacement for free-agent franchise sacks leader Cam Jordan is in order. The Saints have early second- and third-rounders and extra fourth- and fifth-rounders.
For close-to-even value on the trade chart, the Giants could trade No. 5 for No. 8, a third-rounder (No. 73) and a fourth-rounder (No. 132).
Chiefs (No. 9): The Chiefs could throw cold water on this scenario by trading up to No. 3 or No. 4 (Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi came from Kansas City) if the Jets leave their desired pass rusher on the board.
If that price is too steep, the Chiefs — armed with an extra first-rounder, one pick in each of the next three rounds and three fifth-rounders — could call the Giants.
An offer similar to the Saints’ would look like No. 9, a third-rounder (No. 74) and a fourth-rounder (No. 109) for No. 5.
Or, because the Chiefs also have No. 29, they could make it more enticing with No. 9 and a second-rounder (No. 40) for No. 5 and a 2027 fourth-rounder.
In either case, the Giants would retain their two top 10 picks, plus add capital in what is thought to be the draft’s sweet spot. Then the Giants would have a chance to draft two of safety Caleb Downs, receiver Jordyn Tyson, cornerback Mansoor Delane, offensive guard Vega Ioane and receiver Carnell Tate.
And then there is the wild-card scenario:
No. 12 (Cowboys): Do John Harbaugh’s Giants have the intestinal fortitude to help the Cowboys land a pass rusher that could terrorize Jaxson Dart for a decade?
The rival Cowboys and Eagles famously swapped picks (DeVonta Smith for Micah Parsons) in 2021 to mess with the Giants plans in between.
The leaguewide sentiment is that the Cowboys want to trade up for Styles or a pass rusher, but their goal is to hang onto their second first-round pick (No. 20). If two of Reese, Bailey and Styles are gone, and the Cowboys get desperate, a blockbuster could look like No. 12, No. 20 and No. 112 for Nos. 5 and 37.
The Giants suddenly would have three first-rounders (Nos. 10, 12 and 20) to address needs — Delane, offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and receiver Makai Lemon in one scenario — and no picks from No. 21 until No. 105.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
