The NFL regular season is already a quarter of the way through, and while there’s still plenty of time for teams to find their footing, some early-season narratives are starting to take shape. One of those involves the New York Giants and veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. Before the season even began, there were warnings that the Giants might not stick with Wilson for long.
“I would not be shocked if it started off right away. I wouldn’t be shocked…The amount of money they’re paying Russell Wilson does not guarantee him the starting quarterback job, right? I don’t think they’ll be scared to start Jaxson Dart here…This is why they like him,” Chris Simms said.
Fast forward to the present: Wilson was already backing up rookie Jaxson Dart before the calendar even turned to October. Now, he could very well be on the trade block following the Giants' latest decision.
“Wilson is making $10.5 million from the Giants this year, but $8 million of that came in a signing bonus. Thus, a team trading for Wilson would assume just a portion of his $2 million base. That's cheap enough to happen midway through the season, when wallets are tight against the salary cap. The Giants are likely to consider such a move for the right price, a luxury because Jameis Winston, a veteran with 87 starts, would then serve as their backup behind Dart,” NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo wrote.
Trade speculation has already begun, with Wilson being floated as a possible option for quarterback-needy teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns.
“While the Mississippi product didn't produce eye-popping numbers against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, he never appeared overwhelmed by their top-tier defense or the loss of top receiver Malik Nabers (torn ACL). Sunday's win may be enough to prevent the Giants from going into fire-sale mode, but it shouldn't prevent them from shopping three-week starter Russell Wilson. Teams that already have injuries at quarterback—or are simply experiencing poor play at the position—should be interested in Wilson at a modest price. Potential Suitors: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote.
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For both sides, a deal could make sense. The Bengals are looking for a temporary solution while Joe Burrow recovers, and the Browns are still trying to figure out what direction they want to go at quarterback.
Wilson could provide leadership, experience, and stability to either franchise. For Cincinnati, the goal is simply to get the ball into the hands of their talented wide receivers. For Cleveland, it’s about finally finding a reliable presence under center.