There are two sides to every story, two sides to every debate, and of course, two sides to weigh when it comes to a potential headline-making trade in any sport. But for the New York Giants, the debate over a potential quarterback acquisition could become much easier if Week 3 doesn't go well for Jameis Winston following Jaxson Dart's season-ending injury.
If that were to be the case, you have to assume all options are on the table for John Harbaugh and the Giants front office in an effort to save their season; and if it does come to that, one of the most intriguing discussions involves Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
After the Browns decided to roll with Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback, a move that surprised many, Sanders
now remains in a backup role. Considering that, and the Giants' likely need at quarterback, the question of whether a deal to bring Sanders to New York makes sense is an interesting debate, and one we had here at For The Win.
After a lengthy conversation about the possibility, myself and fellow FTW editor Wajih AlBaroudi decided to argue both sides of the Giants making a trade for Sanders, so let's dive in.
Why a Giants trade for Shedeur Sanders makes sense
"Shedeur Sanders was by no means perfect as a rookie, but he had enough flashes to warrant another brief starting look. He went 3-4 on an abysmal Browns team, giving the offense verticality it lacked under Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel."
"He plays a similar gun-slinging style to Jameis Winston, so fitting him into the New York offense wouldn't be difficult for Matt Nagy and Greg Roman over the next few weeks. Sanders needs to work on his pocket presence and realize he can’t extend every play. If he can make that happen, a trial run as the Giants’ starter could prepare him to be a quality backup to Dart for years to come." — Wajih AlBaroudi
Why a Giants trade for Shedeur Sanders doesn't make sense
"From a talent and upside perspective, it's hard not to like the idea of Sanders in New York on a solid offense that needs someone to spread the ball around. However, from the outside looking in, it doesn't appear that the Browns are ready to just give up on Sanders, so I'd be curious what the price tag of the trade would be. However, the real issue, in my opinion, is that I don't think it'd be a move that ultimately benefits Sanders or the Giants much."
"While Sanders is an upgrade right now from Winston, the best-case scenario would be the Giants having an outside chance at making the playoffs and likely doing little beyond that. Realistically, though, they wouldn't be a playoff team, and for Sanders, the move would simply leave him returning to a backup role. Now, there is a fair argument that Sanders could boost his stock with strong play this season, but I think a more likely scenario would just put him in a better situation, and still sitting as a QB2." — Jeff Smith
Ultimately, there are plenty of pros and cons for both the Giants and Sanders in a potential trade. And whether the Giants (or Browns) would choose to make that deal remains a question mark, as there are several alternative options New York could consider. Time will tell, but I think we could have some clarity after Week 3 wraps up.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Giants' Shedeur Sanders trade debate: An argument for why it does (and doesn't) make sense
