The Giants' curious decision to not franchise tag Landon Collins is already being roundly bashed.
Is that decision -- after their refusal to trade Collins at the deadline -- even worse than initially thought?
On the Stick to Football podcast on Bleacher Report on Wednesday, Matt Miller said he knows of one team that was willing to trade a first-round Draft pick for Collins at the deadline.
"I know of one team that was willing to trade a first round pick at the deadline for Landon Collins," Miller said. "And they didn't do it!"
With Collins wanting a long-term deal and growing unhappy with his situation, the Giants GM Dave Gettleman dangled Collins at the deadline last season but chose to hang onto him.
"And now if he walks, the best you're gonna get is a third round compensatory (pick)," Miller added. "How could you be that dumb?"
What isn't clear is whether Gettleman actually passed on a proposed trade of Collins for a first-round pick (which would have been insane given what we know now) or whether Gettleman and the rest of the front office wasn't aware there was one team out there willing to deal a first-rounder for Collins.
Multiple teams made offers to the Giants for Collins at the deadline, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reported in October, including the Chiefs and Buccaneers. According to Vacchiano, the Giants were looking for at least a second-round pick in 2019 plus possibly another low-round pick in 2020, with no team believed to have offered more than a third.
Whether the new information about the potential availability of a first-rounder for Collins is accurate or not, the expectation during the season was that they would use the franchise tag on him if they were unable to work out an extension.
Instead, the Giants are about to let one of their best players -- and biggest clubhouse leaders -- walk out the door.