The New York Giants may have found their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart, and the rookie’s early success could put veteran Russell Wilson on the trade block. Selected late in the first round, the Giants planned on putting Dart on the bench and having him develop behind Wilson. While head coach Brian Daboll says this is still the plan, it’s going to hard to keep him sidelined after two strong preseason performances.
Dart went off against the New York Jets, completing 14 of his 16 passing attempts for 137 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. This is just preseason, and Dart was playing against backups, so take these numbers with a grain of salt. With that disclaimer out of the way, the quarterback was making starting-caliber throws on a routine basis. Sooner or later, the rookie will make his way onto the field, leaving Wilson and fellow veteran Jameis Winston on the bench.
Russell Wilson is not the best he once was, but he’s still a top-32 quarterback and should have some value on the trade block. With Winston serving as an adequate backup, a quarterback-needy team like the New Orleans Saints could try and acquire the veteran.
Saints, Giants Could Agree to Russell Wilson Trade After Jaxson Dart’s Breakout
The New Orleans Saints have the league’s least experienced quarterback room, and it’s not particularly close. Following Derek Carr’s injury-based retirement, the fate of the franchise now rests in the hands of second-round rookie Tyler Shough and 2024 fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler.
Shough has yet to play a snap of meaningful football and will be 26 years old by the end of September, while Rattler started seven games in relief of Carr last year. While Rattler had some moments as a rookie, his overall body of work left a lot to be desired. During his time on the field, the quarterback went 0-6 while completing 57% of his passes for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 52.0 PFF grade, the worst mark among qualified passers.
Even if they had someone like Carr under center, the Saints lack the talent to compete for the playoffs. However, that shouldn’t stop them from pursuing a Russell Wilson trade. If nothing else, adding a veteran quarterback to the room ensures there will be a base level of competence at the position, which is important for a first-year head coach like Kellen Moore.
Terms of the Deal
Russell Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Giants, with $8 million coming in the form of a signing bonus. This means he shouldn’t be expensive to trade and won’t put much of a financial burden on the cash-strapped Saints.
Russell Wilson will help the Saints, but the team shouldn’t give up an important draft pick in this trade. New Orleans has a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Giants should willingly accept that compensation if Dart wins the starting job.
Main Photo: Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images
The post Saints, Giants Could Complete Blockbuster Trade appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.