Giants stand pat at NFL trade deadline after wide receiver intrigue

As their two biggest rivals loaded up for playoff runs and their neighbor tanked for control of the draft, the Giants sat idly at the NFL trade deadline.

The counterintuitive but enticing possibility of trading draft picks for a receiver who could accelerate Jaxson Dart’s development and complement a healthy Malik Nabers next season never materialized.

The thought of trading Dexter Lawrence or Kayvon Thibodeaux — like the Jets dealing away Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner — for draft picks was unpalatable with jobs to be saved by the play on the field.

And so the team that takes the field Sunday against the Bears will be the same team that is off to a 2-7 start.

No Jaylen Waddle, who stayed with the Dolphins. The asking price was a first-round pick plus, The Post confirmed, and the Giants currently possess the No. 5 overall pick, according to Tankathon.

No Chris Olave, who stayed with the Saints. His history of concussions would have been a big risk to assume for the injury-averse Giants.

No Garrett Wilson, who was deemed untouchable in the Jets’ fire sale.

No Adonai Mitchell, who was thrown into the Jets-Colts blockbuster.

No Jakobi Meyers, who was traded from the Raiders to the Jaguars, or Rashid Shaheed, who was traded from the Saints to the Seahawks. Both were half-season rentals and the Giants only were considering players who were under contract in 2026 and maybe beyond so as not to be an immediate leverage disadvantage in a contract negotiation.

General manager Joe Schoen feverishly worked the phones from all angles in recent weeks. One of his best strengths is being in tune to all the league’s buzz unlike his two predecessors.