The New York Giants are in a bad place heading into the NFL trade deadline.
General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are both battling for their jobs and need to win as many games as possible, but selling off quality assets will not help them accomplish that goal.
However, New York is also rebuilding and might benefit from additional draft cash to accelerate the process. However, permitting Schoen to make any substantial decisions while on the hot seat is not a good idea.
One player the Giants can move without jeopardizing their future prospects is quarterback Russell Wilson, who USA TODAY’s Jacob Camenker believes will join the Minnesota Vikings before the trade deadline.
Carson Wentz will miss the rest of the season due to a left shoulder injury. The Vikings will begin Week 9 with scant quarterback experience, as J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer have combined for only two NFL starts.
This could prompt the Vikings to buy low on Wilson. It would not be to make him the starter, but it would offer McCarthy with a veteran sounding board as he seeks to establish himself as Minnesota’s future quarterback.
Wilson opened the season as the Giants’ starting quarterback, but that plan was scrapped quickly after a disappointing three-game stretch led the team to hand the reins to Jaxson Dart.
He now sits as the QB2 in New York, though with Jameis Winston also on the roster, the veteran and former Super Bowl winner appears easily expendable.
Although Wilson’s performance has dipped in recent seasons, he could still be a solid pickup for any team seeking an experienced backup. His contract is affordable, and with free agency coming in 2026, there’s no major long-term risk attached.
The Vikings, meanwhile, could use a seasoned presence at quarterback after losing Carson Wentz for the year. That leaves them relying on two major question marks — J.J. McCarthy, whose potential remains uncertain, and rookie Max Brosmer, who isn’t a reliable fallback if McCarthy falters or gets hurt.
Even in decline, Wilson would be a clear upgrade over Brosmer and could likely be acquired for no more than a late Day 3 draft pick. He’d also bring valuable mentorship for McCarthy.
That said, Winston might be the better target for Minnesota, given his higher upside, but landing the 36-year-old Wilson wouldn’t be a bad move either.