The New Orleans Saints could use help at the quarterback position, and one team with a full quarterback room could help out the Saints.
That’s the New York Giants, and ESPN called the Saints a trade fit for Giants backup quarterback Russell Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler who has seen better years. Wilson, 36, has completed 58.9% of his passes for 786 yards and three touchdowns versus three interceptions before Giants head coach Brian Daboll benched him in favor of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“Trading Wilson would be a challenge because of the scarcity of available starting QB jobs,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote. “The [Cincinnati] Bengals had a clear opening two weeks ago but opted for Joe Flacco. The Giants could slide Jameis Winston into the No. 2 quarterback spot if they aggressively pursue a trade of Wilson.”
“At this stage of Wilson’s career, compensation would not be steep. His days as a productive starter appear to be over. He has a trade-friendly base salary of $2 million,” Fowler added.
In other words, the Saints could afford Wilson, and the former Super Bowl winner could either start and/or mentor Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. Things haven’t panned out for Rattler overall with a 67.7% completion rate for 1,450 yards and eight touchdowns versus four picks in the team’s 1-6 start, and the Saints need a spark to climb out of a hole in the NFC South for the second half of the season.
“Wilson can still throw with pace and touch at the third level of the field, but with his reduced mobility, he isn’t a creator outside of structure at this point,” ESPN’s In three starts with the Giants this season, ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote. “Wilson completed 59.1% of his throws with a QBR of 34.7. He should be viewed as a No. 2 or an injury replacement.”
Saints Under Consideration Since Russell Wilson’s Benching
When Wilson got benched in September, the Saints immediately surfaced as a trade fit. Sports Illustrated’s Karl Rasumussen floated Wilson and the Saints as a match.
“The Saints drafted Tyler Shough in the second round but elected to roll with Spencer Rattler as their starting quarterback,” Rasmussen wrote in September. “If they want to give Shough a chance to learn from an experienced quarterback, Wilson would be a vastly preferable starter to follow than Rattler, who’s proven little in his career in the league.”
“Wilson could get a chance to remain a starter in the NFL, while Shough can study the process of a Super Bowl-winning and 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback before eventually taking the reins himself,” Rasumussen continued. “The Saints don’t seem very likely to compete for anything but the No. 1 pick in the 2025 [drat], but bringing in Wilson could help enhance the development of Shough, if they consider him to be their quarterback of the future.”
Russell Wilson’s Pedigree
It has been a few years since Wilson was one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but he once was.
A third-round draft pick by the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson led the team to a pair of Super Bowl appearances and won one. He led the league in passer rating for 2015 and touchdowns in 2017, and Wilson won NFL Man of the Year in 2020.
After his time with the Seahawks, Wilson played for former Saints head coach Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos, followed by another subpar stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
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