Giants Bench Russell Wilson starts rookie Jackson Dirt in week 4
USA Today Sports’ Chris Bumbaca analyzes the Giants’ decision to bench Russell Wilson in favor of rookie Jackson Dart.
Sports Pulse
- From his first job, Russell Wilson was still able to play a very important role… in another NFL city.
- The NFL trading deadline is approaching November 4th, but in many cases, significant transactions take place a few weeks in advance.
- Several well-known players, including Tyreek Hill and Kirk Cousins, could move as team situations change.
It’s already clear who’s falling into the unrelated hole in the NFL as summer gives way to fall. But even the depths of soccer purgatory have the opportunity to spiralize the teams and players trying to escape it.
The league’s trade deadline is closer than ever, with the league being set to expire at 4pm on November 4th the day after the ninth week of the regular season schedule. However, recent history shows that the increased salary cap and the collection of more aggressive general managers who are probably not married to draft capital as their predecessors, are likely to decline much earlier than their deadline. Wideouts Davante Adams and Amari Cooper were dealt with three weeks before the 2024 cutoff, for example. Three years ago, Christian McCaffrey was shipped from Carolina to San Francisco almost two weeks before the deadline.
“I’m always looking,” Bills GM Brandon Beane also notes the benefits of giving them more time to adapt to new environments and schematics last year after acquiring Cooper.
“Whenever I can add a player… I’m going to keep an eye on it.”
And while it’s not October yet, there’s a lot going on in the next three, six weeks, etc., take Beane’s advice and keep an eye on it. NFL teams are wise to watch as things continue to unfold in the coming days and weeks.
Getting him would be like an emergency breakdown. Also, given that his cousin owes the $27.5 million proportional version of his base salary this season, he needs plenty of cap room from potential suitors. He recently turned 37, but has now been removed two years since Achilles’ surgery. The terms will certainly be specific, especially since the cousin’s no trade clause allows him to kill any trade, but they lack sufficient confidence that in-house backups could endure over the long term if teams like the Lions, Rams and Seahawks suddenly realize they have long-term needs behind the center…
Viewing Team – TBD: There’s a reason why my cousin hasn’t moved yet. But this is when the NFL, and unexpected, hopeless situations can occur at any time.
The veteran pass rush signed a one-year, $10 million contract in March. That means he is very available. Following free agency, Atlanta spent his first round picks on edge players Jaron Walker and James Pierce Jr., but while it’s certainly worth learning from the 10th-year veteran with a 67½ career sack, there’s an incentive for GM Terry Fontenot to move Floyd.
Viewing Team – 49ers: They recreated Floyd in 2024 when they lost De Nick Bosa torn ACL to the ACL that had 8½ bags of Niners.
He had a turbulent summer and had brief training camp aside in prolonged negotiations with the team to agree to both Hendrickson and the Bengals Rays. Still, Hendrickson was able to make up to $30 million in 2025, but he is still planning to walk in 2026. Obviously, the Bengalis did not pay him to trade him and historically did not tend to make seasonal moves. However, Cincinnati, who dealt with QB Carson Palmer during the 2011 campaign, didn’t know two weeks ago that there would likely be no injured QB Joe Barrow, if not for the rest of the 2025 season. And if Bengals D continues to look just as good as last Sunday in Minnesota, why not move from Hendrickson (30) when his production can still guarantee a great return, given that he is very likely to move in a few months anyway.
The team watching – Eagles: They linked with Miles Garrett and Mika Parsons earlier this year and were certainly able to use the veteran pass rush after losing Super Bowl 59 hero Josh Sweatt in free agency.
He said all the right things after reducing Finn to 0-3 when Thursday’s losses looked very difficult for the team. Vote for the NFL top player in a fellow survey just a year ago, Hill left the team in the 2024 regular season finale, stripped of his team captain this summer, publicly criticised by QB Tua Tagovailoa and accused of domestic abuse by his estranged wife. Nonetheless, he is still a rare game breaker that can make a good team great. And with his base salary scheduled to rise to nearly $30 million in 2026, the final year of his contract, Dolphins can’t afford to wait for a long time if they’re going to get something back from their investment in the leech.
Watching Team – Chiefs: Perhaps his reunion with his previous team would be overstated after Hill was shipped from KC three years ago. But perhaps a team suitable to harness his talent and manage his mood would need to make bold moves to retain that “perennial” status.
Historically speaking, saints were not prone to throw towels. But especially after GM Mickey Loomis exported CB Marshon Lattimore a year ago, if there’s a year to do that… Kamara is one of the best players in franchise history. He is also a 30-year-old running back who has never smelled the Super Bowl, and won’t do that this year or the next New Orleans. And despite his age, Kamala’s playing style was not something that he was exposed to the level of abuse that his most traditional back endured. Used wisely, he can still become a major asset at every stage of crime. And his situation appears to be useful in divorce lawsuits that are beneficial to both parties.
The team watching – Cardinals: Arizona appears to be located to compete for the playoff berth. However, that became a more difficult purpose in the aftermath of RB James Connor’s season-ending ankle injury. Kamala is quickly able to step into the backfield-by-side committee, successfully complementing second-year Banger Trey Benson, and also appears to be able to play well for multidimensional QB Kyler Murray.
He is in the final year of his contract. He asked for a deal last month. He established his personal best in 2024 with 87 gloves for 1,027 yards. It shouldn’t be too much of a hold-up here unless there is more to prove that Silver and Black are not on the road anywhere in 2025.
Watching Team – Steelers: They are already in Go-for-IT mode, but have received little production from the wide-out position, beyond DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin III. And yes, the Steelers prefer to roll on multiple tight ends. However, some additional offensive differences could not be hurt. It might also be wise to have another dynamic pass catcher due to these inevitable scenarios when Aaron Rodgers and Co. have to make up for a substantial deficit without the luxury of time.
He is 29 years old in the final year of his contract (base salary of $1.3 million), but he could still be an impact player in the right circumstances. However, Njoku is missing out on newcomer Te Harold Fannin Jr. with his team that can always rebuild or reassess the full-on.
The team watching – Buccaneers: Njoku had one of the best seasons in 2018 with the then brown QB Baker Mayfield. Why don’t they reunite and bring any additional elements to the Tampa Bay attack that seems unable to keep the pass catcher healthy?
Game-loving interior defensive linemen are one of the most valuable items in the NFL. And why Titan signed Simmons to a four-year, $94 million extension. He’s on a contract until 2027, but for now, Tennessee doesn’t seem to be in a serious position to compete by then. However, rookie GM Mike Borgonzi has undoubtedly been able to promote rebuilding by dealing with a 28-year-old player who still has the best year left and gets great returns.
Viewing Team – Lion: Detroit made another appearance at Super Bowl Calibur in Monday night’s victory in Baltimore. But it goes without saying that injury and depth flaws for the Lions in 2024 cost the Lions quite a bit, and De Aidan Hutchinson is likely to attract more and more double teams as the years go by. What an inside out combo for him and Simmons if they unite.
After failing to post in a four-way quarterback battle at Browns training camp, Pickett was traded in August for the third time in less than 18 months, to backstop Genosmith following O’Connell’s preseason wrist injury. However, O’Connell is expected to be healthy before the deadline, and there is little reason why two veterans are unlikely to claim QB1 reins on the merits that hold the merits behind Smith (tablets, tablets, tablets).
Viewing Team – Packers: Malik Willis carried them in a pinch last year without Jordan’s love, but he was not asked to manipulate the attack at a similar level. Maybe he’s leaving it to the task now… and, for example, if love is lost in a 6-week stretch, it might be wise to see a more experienced fallback.
The era of rookie Jackson Dart came in Gotham…this leaves little reason to carry Winston and Wilson, particularly Wilson, has an infinite (proportional) base salary of $2 million and an expired contract. At this point it is difficult to see another extended starting opportunity to present itself to either veteran. However, a playoff caliber team suddenly needs an intermediate bridge, which could lead to invaluable insurance. This is probably a better result than being relegated to answer questions from a 22-year-old football savior who only needs one “mentor.” And Wilson showed in Week 2 that he could still shine in the burst.
Viewing Team – Charger: Let’s say QB Justin Herbert is suffering from a high-class sprain or may break his fingers with his passing hand. Does the bolt really roll along with the tray lance or is it an undrafted rookie dj uiagalelei? If QB1 goes down, you can find a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations that are in a more unstable position.
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