The Giants called about Bijan Robinson, but the real story is Atlanta’s choice
The Giants’ deadline search for a running back reached Atlanta. New York called about Bijan Robinson, the Falcons’ star back, but the available reporting does not establish that the conversation reached a formal offer. That distinction matters: an inquiry is evidence of interest, not evidence that a trade was close. The call was part of a broader push by the Giants to improve their roster as they pursued the NFC East lead and a playoff run. The report of New York’s inquiry made the Robinson connection public.
New York had been linked to several possible backfield additions, including Indianapolis’s Jonathan Taylor. The Giants reportedly offered the Colts a package led by a second-round pick, with a fifth-rounder also included, but did not raise it to a first-round selection. Indianapolis kept Taylor. The two sides could revisit trade discussions in the offseason, but that is a possibility, not a reported agreement. The Giants’ pursuit of Taylor and Robinson belongs in the same story: they were willing to make calls, but their deadline appetite had a price ceiling. The Colts’ decision to retain Taylor helps explain why the Giants’ search ended without a star acquisition.
The Robinson call is the more startling one because Atlanta had strong reasons not to sell. The Falcons had signed him to a multiyear extension, and the reports describe him as central to the franchise’s plans. They differ on the extension’s value: one gives it as up to $75 million, while another reports $66.8 million. The materials do not explain the discrepancy, so there is no sound basis to collapse the two figures into one. Either way, the contract was a meaningful commitment, not a sign that Atlanta was preparing to move him.
Robinson’s production makes the hypothetical price hard to ignore. He led the NFL with 880 rushing yards entering Week 10, and another report put his total offense at 1,130 yards from scrimmage. Those figures fit together: the latter includes his rushing and receiving yards. He had also produced 2,298 yards from scrimmage in the prior season, when he earned first-team All-Pro recognition. That is a compelling resume, but it still does not tell us what the Giants were prepared to surrender—or whether Atlanta would have entertained any realistic offer.
The Falcons’ own deadline activity makes their stance less simple than “untouchable.” One report says Atlanta dealt safety Jesse Bates III to Jacksonville and center Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore, even as the team remained in a tight division race. The evidence supplied puts Atlanta at three wins in a four-team NFC South in one account, and at 3-6 in another. The records differ in presentation, but both describe a team with a losing record that had not abandoned its division hopes. Selling some pieces while keeping Robinson could reflect a distinction between players Atlanta was willing to move and the one it viewed as a franchise pillar.
There is a real argument that Atlanta should have listened harder. A strong offer could have brought premium draft capital for a young, productive player, and one analysis argues the Falcons should sell rather than wait for a core that has not produced a playoff appearance to change course. But that is an argument, not proof that the Giants offered multiple first-round picks. In fact, the reports say it remains unknown whether New York made an offer at all. The wider deadline debate captures the tension: a contender may value immediate help, while a struggling team may value future flexibility.
The Giants, meanwhile, move forward with Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary in the backfield. Skattebo led New York in carries and rushing yards, but he had also missed time and committed four fumbles, according to one report. After the deadline, coach John Harbaugh said the team believed its current roster could accomplish its goals. Skattebo likewise expressed confidence in his ability to be a dangerous back when ready to play. Those are statements of belief; the next games will provide more evidence. The Giants’ plan and Harbaugh’s first-year deadline approach are explored in this look at New York’s trade posture.
For my part, the most revealing number is the one we do not have: the Giants’ actual offer to Atlanta. Without it, grading the Falcons for rejecting a hypothetical package or the Giants for failing to land Robinson is mostly guesswork. New York made the call; Atlanta kept its star; the deadline passed without a deal between them. The 2026 regular season continues through January 10, with the playoffs beginning January 16, so both teams still have time to make the deadline decisions look wise—or costly—on the field. The season schedule sets that timeline, while the prior season’s dates are listed in the 2025 season record.
Reported by CBS Sports, Newsweek, New York Post, Sports Illustrated, Atlanta News First.
