Why Giants may have to keep CB Adoree' Jackson through trade deadline

The New York Giants may not be able to shop veteran cornerback Adoree' Jackson even if they become sellers ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline. 

Jackson recently told Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com that the neck injury the 28-year-old suffered during the Week 6 loss at the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 15 is "damn near...the same thing" that has prevented quarterback Daniel Jones from being medically cleared for contact since Jones went down on Oct. 8. 

"I’m getting better," Jackson insisted during the conversation. "I’ve been doing the things they’ve been telling me to do. The medicine has been helping, but you have to take this one day at a time. I’m obviously itching and eager to get out there, but I’m also being smart because I understand the neck isn’t something to play with." 

Giants players managed to temporarily pour cold water over chatter regarding a possible pre-trade deadline fire sale via this past Sunday's 14-7 win over the Washington Commanders that improved Big Blue to 2-5. If, however, the Giants lose to the 3-3 New York Jets this Sunday, out-of-contract players could be considered surplus to requirements. 

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post and Dan Duggan of The Athletic both mentioned Jackson as a potential trade candidate, in part because the Giants have rookies Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins III at the position. 

"The problem is Jackson’s bloated remaining $6.7M salary, so the Giants would likely need to eat some money to facilitate a trade," Duggan explained. "The quality of the pick the Giants receive would improve based on the amount of the salary they’re willing to pay."

Of course, such takes are essentially meaningless if Jackson isn't cleared to play before November. 

"Obviously I want to be out there, but if my health isn’t right ... I want whoever is the best available to play, whether it’s young, old, I’m going to root them on regardless," Jackson said about possibly losing his spot to younger talents. "You just have to show up when you get back and do your job. If I was in their position I would want somebody older or a vet to help me and give me words of encouragement." 

As of Thursday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Giants as three-point underdogs against the Jets. Proving sportsbooks wrong and getting to 3-5 could be enough to convince Giants general manager Joe Schoen to see if his current squad can go on a second-half-of-the-season run toward competing for a playoff berth.