The quarterback carousel in the NFL is off and running, as the Las Vegas Raiders have acquired Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.
What does this mean for the quarterback-shopping New York Giants?
First, acquiring the 34-year-old Smith probably removes the possibility the Raiders, with the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft, would try to trade up to No. 1 or No. 2 for Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders.
That is obviously good news for the Giants if they want to trade up for Ward, as much recent speculation has indicated.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic is now speculating that Seattle could now be a landing spot for Sam Darnold, who starred for the Minnesota Vikings last season. The Giants don’t seem like a likely landing spot for Darnold, who flopped in New York after being drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in 2018.
If Seattle can’t get the veteran quarterback it wants, perhaps Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss would be in play for the Seahawks, who have the 18th overall pick in the draft.
One other bit of quarterback news: Russini is reporting that the Atlanta Falcons are telling teams Kirk Cousins will not be traded.
The biggest remaining question for the Giants, if they decide Ward is their quarterback target, is whether or not the Tennessee Titans will select him at No. 1 or being willing to trade down two spots with the Giants.