The New York Giants could still target Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart after the Colts dealt DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.
Duggan, who covers the Giants, posted on X that the Buckner deal was the “Least surprising trade of the season. Giants didn’t have a 2027 fourth-rounder to deal. There’s still another Colts DL, Grover Stewart, who could be moved…”
The Colts sent Buckner, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, back to the 49ers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported. Schefter described the move as the Colts “sending three-time Pro-Bowl DT DeForest Buckner back to the 49ers, the team that made him a 2016 first-round pick before dealing him to Indianapolis in 2020.”
Stewart has spent his entire 10-year career with the Colts after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft out of Albany State. He measures 6-foot-4 and 314 pounds and turned 33 this month.
Through seven games this season, Stewart has 22 total tackles, 0.5 sacks and one pass defended while starting all seven contests. Most of his tackles have come as assists.
In 2025 he appeared in all 17 games and recorded 55 tackles, including 23 solo stops, along with 0.5 sacks, four passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. Career totals include 13.5 sacks.
Stewart is in the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract he signed with Indianapolis in March 2024. His 2026 salary-cap figure sits near $14.25 million.
The Giants opened a significant hole on the interior defensive line when they traded All-Pro tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals before the 2026 draft in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick. New York has since shown interest in reinforcing the position while sitting at 4-2-1 and leading the NFC East under first-year head coach John Harbaugh.
The NFL trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 10. Any deal for Stewart would need to be completed before that cutoff.
Indianapolis has already moved two high-profile veterans this week, also trading guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. The flurry of activity points to a broader roster reset for the Colts.
Stewart profiles as a sturdy run defender rather than a consistent pass rusher. His presence could give the Giants added depth and physicality in the middle of the defensive line for the stretch run.
Because his recent sack production has been modest and he is in the last year of his deal, the acquisition cost would likely be lower than the fourth-round pick Indianapolis received for Buckner.
The Giants already acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Minnesota earlier this season and appear positioned to make further moves if the price is right.
Whether Stewart becomes available remains uncertain, but Duggan’s note keeps him on the radar for a Giants team seeking defensive-line help before the deadline.
