Trade Osi?

A thought that crossed my mind was this:  What if the Giants dangled Osi Umeniyora in a trade for draft picks?

Here are the facts:  Osi has played in 16 games in every season except for 2008 when he tore his ACL and was done for the season and in 2006 when he played 11 games after tearing his hip flexor.  He’s not an injury risk.  In 2004 when the Giants and the Chargers made the franchise altering trade between Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning, one of the holding points was that the Chargers wanted Osi, so even as a young prospect, the Giants second round pick was a well touted lineman.

His breakthrough game was during the Giants Super Bowl championship season of 2007 when he had a franchise record 6 sack game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

This season, with a new coordinator, Osi had un-Osi like moments.  Earlier in the season, he walked out of practice and returned the next day with a formal apology reassuring everyone that he was fine with the new defensive coordinator.  Then his playing time decreased to the point where he was only on the field for 3 rd downs and on sure fire pass rush situations.  It was a role that he was not pleased with, especially after a 41-9 humiliating loss against the Panthers where the Giants were officially knocked out of the playoffs in the final game at Giant stadium.  In an interview he talked about how frustrated he was in possibly his final game in a Giant uniform.

Now i’m not saying trade him just because he said something in the heat of a very bad moment, but let’s just add the factors here to consider.  Co-owner, John Mara released a statement today explaining how disappointed he was and how changes were in order.  Sheridan’s firing didn’t surprise anyone.  But trading Osi would send tremors around the organization to everyone and also rejuvenate the team in a way that needs to be done.

Osi’s contract is very tradeable.  He has two more years at a very reasonable cost and he’s still young enough to make an impact and be considered an impact player.  He can fetch a first round pick or maybe even multiple mid level picks.  As of right now here’s the draft order:

1. St. Louis (1-15)

2. Detroit (2-14)

3. Tampa Bay (3-13)

4. Washington (4-12)

5. Kansas City (4-12)

6. Seattle (5-11)

7. Cleveland (5-11)

8. Oakland (5-11)

9. Buffalo (6-10)

10t. Denver (acquired from Chicago) (7-9)

10t. Jacksonville (7-9)

12. Miami (7-9)

13. San Francisco (8-8)

14. Seattle (acquired from Denver) (8-8)

15. New York Giants (8-8)

16t. Tennessee (8-8)

16t. San Francisco (acquired from Carolina) (8-8)

18. Pittsburgh (9-7)

19t. Atlanta (9-7) 

19t. Houston (9-7) 

Picks 21-24 will be made by the wild-card round losers. Picks 25-28 will be made the divisional round losers.  Picks 29-30 will be made by the conference championship losers.  Pick 31 will go to the Super Bowl loser.  Pick 32 will be made by the Super Bowl winner.

I see Seattle with two picks.  Perhaps a trade for one of their top picks.  I am sure they would love a player of his caliber on their front line.  Maybe even trade to Cleveland for D’Qwell Jackson and a 1st and a 4th.

Trading for multiple draft picks even after the first round would be a plus as Jerry Reese, Giants GM, has shown his ability to use draft picks to stock his team.

This is just an idea people.  I would love to see a determined Osi return to the Giants and come back strong next season under a more aggressive Defensive Coordinator, but let’s be honest.  Something major has to happen to this team to wake the remaining members up that nothing stays forever and the effort of the last two games can not, and will not be tolerated and should never have happened.