The 2025 season has not gone as planned for veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. After being named the New York Giants’ Week 1 starter, Wilson was benched just three games into the season in favor of rookie QB Jaxson Dart.
Dart has led the Giants to a 2-1 record over their last three games, officially closing the chapter on Wilson in New York. Now, with the NFL trade deadline looming, Wilson could be on the move.
Russell Wilson listed as top trade candidate ahead of deadline
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Wilson is among a list of trade candidates that executives and coaches believe could be available in the next few weeks.
Schefter listed Wilson as one of two high-profile quarterbacks as a potential trade candidate (the other being Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons).
In three starts with the Giants this season, Wilson threw for 786 yards with a 3-3 TD-INT ratio, including a 450-yard, 3-1 TD-INT outing against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Wilson, however, went 0-3 as the starter, prompting Giants head coach Brian Daboll to make the change.
Giants could be interested in trading Wilson away
Now that the Jaxson Dart Era has begun, Wilson could soon be traded ahead of the November 4th deadline.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Giants have not actively shopped Wilson since benching him in Week 4, but the league at large understands he could be dealt.
The acquiring team would owe Wilson only the prorated portion of his $2 million base salary while giving up what sources believe would be a Day 3 draft pick, per Jones.
Because of how financially friendly Wilson’s contract is, there is a good chance a team calls with trade interest. However, considering the 36-year-old was benched less than a month into the season, it is unlikely Wilson will yield any major trade returns for the Giants.
Nevertheless, a Day 3 pick could be of some value to the Giants. And with Dart instilling confidence as a starter, and with Jameis Winston under contract through 2026 as the backup, New York will be comfortable moving on from Wilson.