Giants Trade Rumor: Are Giants Shopping Mathias Kiwanuka

Being roughly six months away from preseason football and one month away from the NFL Draft, NFL fans and writers alike have little better to do with themselves than speculate on potential trades and signings. Back in January, some crazy man even suggested that the New York Giants should consider signing Terrell Owens were he to be released by the Cowboys.

One rumor that has been going around New York, Cleveland and Arizona is that the Giants are currently shopping defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. There are two things that make trading the 25 year old LB/DE a very real possibility. The Giants added even more depth to their defensive line by signing Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard. New York could even "replace" Kiwanuka by drafting a defensive lineman.

The main reason the Giants would make any sort of trade, though, is the ongoing Plaxico Burress saga. Recent reports suggest that the Giants would be willing to bring Burress back in 2009. If New York does cut or trade Burress, however, the team will need to replace the wide receiver with a high caliber player. Arizona definitely has a number one receiver. Cleveland may or may not depending on the mood of Braylon Edwards on any particular day.

Rumor one has the Giants trading Kiwanuka to the Browns for Edwards. Since the Browns are completely retooling, Cleveland would demand a draft pick from the Giants, as well. The Browns desperately need help on defense and Braylon Edwards could probably use a change of scenery. Newsday reported on Thursday that the Giants are not interested in a Kiwanuka for Edwards deal. The story suggests, however, that New York would part with draft picks in order to bring Edwards to the Giants.

That same story also states that the Giants would not trade Kiwanuka "for any other player." The story does not mention Anquan Boldin by name, though, and he's probably somebody worth naming in such an article. The Anquan Boldin-Arizona situation has been quite interesting since the NFL playoffs. Boldin apparently got into arguments with coaches, stated that he wanted to be traded, than took it back and expressed a desire to re-sign with the Cardinals, all the while wanting significantly more money than what he made in 2008.

A Kiwanuka for Boldin deal may in fact be more realistic than trading Kiwanuka to the Browns, especially now that Arizona has brought back quarterback Kurt Warner for two more seasons. In short, the Giants could pay Boldin whatever he wants (but only if the team cuts or trades one Plaxico Burress).

Losing Kiwanuka would have an impact on any defense, even one as deep as that of the Giants. Kiwanuka finished the 2008 season with eight sacks while filling in on the defensive line for the injured Osi Umenyiora. Kiwanuka is an incredibly skilled pass rusher who can line up at defensive end or outside linebacker. At only 25 years old, chances are we haven't yet seen Kiwanuka at his absolute best.

It was reported on Tuesday that the Giants are willing to deal one of their many draft picks for a quality player. Several news outlets also suggest that the Giants are not only going to keep Kiwanuka but they're going to keep him on the defensive line (rather than play him at linebacker) in 2009.