Rusty Smith Signing: Giants add another backup quarterback

[UPDATE by Ed Valentine, 04/28/14 3:04 PM EDT: Perhaps this tweet explains the signing better than anything else.]

Giants QB Curtis Painter had arthroscopic knee surgery: Quarterback sidelined for four weeks http://t.co/8Ub5t3j8qK @footballpost #NFL

— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) April 28, 2014

The New York Giants continued adding to their backup quarterback collection on Monday, announcing the signing of former Tennessee Titans backup Rusty Smith. The addition of Smith brings to five the number of quarterbacks currently on the Giants' roster.

Smith, 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, played in only three regular-season games - starting one - in his four seasons in Tennessee. He made two appearances in 2010 and one in 2012. His career totals include 23 completions in 45 attempts for 234 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Titans in 2010.

The Giants also recently Josh Freeman and have brought back last year's backup, Curtis Painter. The obvious question in all of this is whether or not the collecting of veteran backups for Eli Manning means that Ryan Nassib, the team's 2013 fourth-round pick, might be on the trading block during the 2014 NFL Draft.

There was some thought when the Giants traded up in last year's draft to take Nassib that they might eventually use him as trade bait. Nassib did not dress for any games as a rookie after struggling during the preseason, and there has been some speculation that head coach Tom Coughlin was not happy with his development as a rookie.

Perhaps this ends up having no impact on Nassib. We will find out during the draft.