Four weeks into the NFL season, and with the trade deadline looming, an ideal trade partner for New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is emerging.
After benching Russell Wilson, in favor of Jaxson Dart, given that Jameis Winston is signed through the 2026 campaign, the veteran quarterback who started the first three weeks of the season could prove to be a more valuable trade chip than as a mentor to the first-round rookie signal caller.
Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, the Bengals are facing a calamity on offense, having dropped two consecutive games since quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury that could sideline him for up to three months. Cincinnati has been outscored 73-13 over that span by the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos as Jake Browning has tossed just three touchdowns to five interceptions.
Burrow’s injury completely changed the calculus for Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden, and how Cincinnati approaches playing defense from a philosophical perspective, after entering the season with significant questions on that side of the ball, already.
However, given Browning’s struggles and the fact that the Baltimore Ravens‘ defense has been ravaged by injuries, if Cincinnati isn’t ready to throw in the towel on the 2025 campaign, a trade for Wilson could be the kind of move that resurrects the season.
Despite Wilson’s struggles through his three starts in a Giants uniform, the 36-year-old could provide some stability for an offense in Cincinnati that features All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase and consistent star Tee Higgins.
While Wilson has asserted that he isn’t seeking a trade, and the Giants don’t seem to be in a hurry to move him, if the Bengals would offer even a fourth-round draft choice in exchange for Wilson it could be too tempting for Schoen to resist.
Trading Wilson would remove any potential for a distraction in the Giants‘ quarterback room, and give the veteran the chance to be the starter for a team loaded with star power on offense and that entered the season with designs on contending.
If the Bengals want to salvage their season, Wilson might be their last, best shot.
For the Giants, trading Wilson clears the path to focus fully on the future with an added asset to build with.
Jaxson Dart’s First Start Draws Rave Reviews from Former Giants Coach
GettyNew York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during Week 4.
Sunday against the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers, Dart’s mobility, rushing for 54 yards and a touchdown combined with passing for 111 yards and a score propelled the Giants to their first win of the season.
Former Giants head coach Joe Judge has coached the quarterbacks at Ole Miss the past two seasons, so he wasn’t surprised to see Dart become the driving force of New York’s 21-18 win.
“He’s an absolute competitor,” Judge told Between The Hashmarks. “And he will bring guys with him. He’s at his best in tough situations, I saw that coaching him last year, and he was the same guy today.
“It was a great job by the staff and that team today.”
Dart made NFL history by becoming the first quarterback in the past 23 years to win his first start against a team that was previously at least 3-0, joining Marc Bulger as the most recent quarterback to pull off the feat.
While Dart never quite found a consistent rhythm in the passing game, and that could become even more difficult to sustain after Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL, his mobility and the ability to extend plays could become an asset in head coach Brian Daboll’s scheme and provide a solid floor to build on the rest of this season, and beyond.
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