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Update: The Rivers-to-Giants trade isn't expected to be made official today, both sides hope it's a done deal by Thursday, according to Adam Schefter.
As we reported earlier, rumors began to run rampant that the New York Giants were interested in trading for linebacker, Keith Rivers. The rumor really began to gain momentum as the day went on and now it seems that a deal is in place. According to Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News, the former first round pick has been traded to the Giants for their 2012 fifth round pick. Nothing has been confirmed by either club at this point, though NFL insider Jason La Canfora has confirmed the report.
@TheBlueScreen
Ralph VacchianoI'm told the Giants will be giving the Bengals their 5th-round pick in the 2012 draft for LB Keith Rivers. #NYG
16 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
Mike Garafolo of The Star/Ledger has also chimed in on the report and is surprised at how fast things have moved.
@MikeGarafolo
Mike GarafoloConfirming @TheBlueScreen's report: Giants sending a 5th round pick to Cincy in the Rivers deal. #nyg 9 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
With the Giants fifth round pick this season, the Bengals now have three picks in that round which include their own and the one from the New England Patriots in the Chad Ochocinco trade from last season.
The value for Rivers seems low for a former top-ten pick, but given his injury history (missing almost half of his four-year career to various ailments) and the market value for another linebacker in DeMeco Ryans (traded for a fourth round pick), the trade seems to be about fair market value. It's a shame that the team couldn't get more for him, but they seem to be stockpiled at the position and Thomas Howard filled in very well at the weakside linebacker spot last season in relief of Rivers.
The unfortunate aspect of receiving a draft pick from the Super Bowl Champions is that the pick is at the end of the round, basically rendering it a sixth round selection. It's possible that since the Bengals are armed with three fifth-round picks that they could use those as trade ammunition if they see an available player that they want to move up and take. We're just not sure how much room that those picks will allow the team to maneuver around to where they would like.