The Jaxson Dart era is here to stay for the New York Giants, leaving veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in the rearview mirror. Many pegged the latter as an all-too-obvious trade candidate immediately following his benching, and understandably so given his pedigree and cost-effective contract.
However, ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler pushed back on Wilson being a logical bargaining chip in their latest league-wide intel dump. The insiders used the above-referenced logic as a counterargument, explaining how rerouting the one-time Super Bowl champion doesn't bolster the Giants' short- or long-term outlook.
Graziano and Fowler's takes on Wilson's murky future with the Giants compared to the public consensus are a true example of the glass-half-empty/full perspective. Nevertheless, valid points are made to support the idea of New York hanging onto its veteran signal-caller, for now at least.
NFL insiders make valid argument against Giants trading Russell Wilson
Suitors may be interested in Wilson's services, yet that's largely because his "value is also likely very low right now," Graziano wrote. From a bird's-eye view, the G-Men would be impulsively selling a future Hall of Famer for pennies on the dollar. The incoming value seemingly renders this a nonsensical move for New York, but a patient approach could help them extrapolate a worthwhile haul.
" ... the Giants might wait until someone gets desperate to ship [Wilson] out," Graziano wrote, though that's easier said than done.
Fowler labeled Wilson the "most sensible candidate" of the "marquee" passers potentially available to get dealt between now and the NFL's Nov. 4 trade deadline. Conversely, with that in mind, rival front offices aren't going to get into a bidding war for an expendable asset. Shoehorning the 10-time Pro Bowler elsewhere does no one any good, especially the Giants.
Wilson has ostensibly taken his newfound mentor role in stride and isn't rushing for a change of scenery. His positive mindset works in the Giants' favor, giving the club time to assess the landscape and find a desperate team. A combination of a lack of demand and clear landing spots for him makes slow-playing this situation the best course of action for Big Blue.
For whatever it's worth, Fowler notes that the Cleveland Browns had "some level of interest in Wilson" before he joined the Giants this past offseason. Perhaps that jump-starts talks between the two sides, but nothing is imminent.