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The New York Giants are trading guard Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
Faalele had been working with the Giants’ second-team offensive line during training camp but lost his opportunity to compete for a starting job after New York selected Francis Mauigoa with the No. 10 overall pick and planned to move him to guard.
The trade gives Jacksonville an experienced offensive lineman at a position hit hard by injuries during training camp.
Jaguars Add Experienced Offensive Lineman
The Jaguars have been dealing with a growing list of injuries along their offensive line.
Right guard Patrick Mekari recently underwent back surgery and could begin the season on injured reserve. Starting right tackle Cole Van Lanen is on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from a knee injury.
Backups Walker Little and Chuma Edoga have also missed time, while rookie Emmanuel Pregnon was sidelined before recently returning to practice.
Jacksonville coach Liam Coen said the team was down to about nine healthy offensive linemen at one point during training camp, making additional depth a priority.
Faalele brings 71 games of NFL experience to the group and has started 34 consecutive regular-season games over the past two seasons.
Daniel Faalele Started 34 Games With Ravens
Faalele, 26, originally entered the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens as a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-8, 380-pound offensive lineman spent his first two seasons primarily as a backup before moving to right guard.
He started all 17 games in both 2024 and 2025, giving him valuable experience at a position where Jacksonville currently has uncertainty.
Faalele played in 71 games during his four seasons with Baltimore before following former Ravens coach John Harbaugh to New York this offseason.
Giants Drafted Faalele’s Replacement
Faalele signed a one-year contract with the Giants before the 2026 NFL Draft, initially appearing to be in line for a starting role.
However, New York used the No. 10 pick acquired in the Dexter Lawrence trade to select Mauigoa, who was expected to play guard.
That pushed Faalele into a backup role during training camp. He had been working at both guard spots but eventually lost second-team opportunities to players including Aaron Stinnie and Josh Ezeudu.
Faalele’s preseason performance also did little to strengthen his case. He recorded a 0.0 pass-blocking grade and a 40.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus while playing 13 snaps against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jacksonville Gains Much-Needed Depth
The Jaguars are acquiring Faalele at a time when their offensive line needs additional healthy bodies.
His experience as a full-time starter over the past two seasons should give Jacksonville another option as it determines its Week 1 lineup.
Faalele will now compete with players such as Mekari and Edoga for a spot on the final roster while providing insurance for a unit that has already endured several injuries.
For the Giants, the trade clears a roster spot and ends Faalele’s short stint in New York after the team determined it had other options at guard.
