Russell Wilson signed in New York planning to take over as the Giants’ starting quarterback. His contract, as well as the team’s other moves this offseason, tell a different story.
“I expect to be the starter,” said Wilson at his introductory press conference (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “I think this team is looking for someone to lead them in every way.”
Was Wilson promised the first crack at the starting job, or was he declaring his intention to earn it?
His one-year contract with a base value of $10.5MM suggests the latter. That would be the lowest salary of any starting quarterback not on their rookie contract. Justin Fields is expected to start for the Jets at a $20M APY, and Daniel Jones signed with the Colts for $14MM to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting gig.
Wilson’s deal also includes another $10.5MM of incentives, $7.5MM of which are “based on a variety of play-time, performance, and playoff incentives,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The remaining $3MM can be earned on a per-game basis if Wilson plays more than 50% of the team’s offensive snaps and the Giants win.
In other words, Wilson’s contract will only reach starter-level money if he starts and succeeds. Staying at his base value would make him an expensive backup, but that would mean the Giants have a much cheaper starter in Winston or a rookie.
Winston’s deal is worth $8MM over two years with another $8MM available via incentives with triggers that have yet to be reported. Given Wilson’s incentive structure, it will be impossible for both quarterbacks to reach the maximum values of their deals.
The veterans’ earning potential could also be threatened by a rookie quarterback, should the Giants choose to go that route in the draft. Wilson has frequently been tagged as a potential mentor for a rookie, but he doesn’t see his role in the same light, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He’s in New York to win football games.
“If we draft a quarterback, we’ll make sure he does everything he can to be ready to go,” said Wilson (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News). “But for me it’s about the process of winning. I’m focused on winning as the QB of the Giants to help us win.”
Tbf, if his competition is Jameis and a rookie QB, it makes all the sense in the world to have Russ start week 1 and go from there
Exciting times to be a Giants fan!
It actually is! At least relatively speaking compared to the last few years!
He’s Russell Wilson. He probably also expects to be the first starting quarterback on the moon.
Apparently he’s second to some guy named Warren…
If Cleveland takes Sanders a caller on WFAN today suggested that the Giants should trade down one spot with New England and get back Joe Milton as part of the deal. Then take Carter at #4. As New England is big on Hunter. This way Giants can get both the young QB and top player in the draft without giving up anything.
Must have been a Patriots fan. Only people like that think a 6th round draft pick with one game played against a team that had no interest in winning is worth anything. His game against the Bills was a glorified exhibition game.
This is true. And I’ve heard the Pats want a mid round pick for him
Winston: brotha thems fight in’ werds!!
The best case scenario for the Giants is that they take Hunter, a couple OL, and lose 17 games.
Is next year supposed to have a good group of QBs (besides the possibility of Manning)?
Giants Country Let’s Ride!
Watch Jameis win the job out of camp. Would make for good NY sports.
The real question for me is whether Wilson, Rodgers or Stafford is the first to go on IR for an extended vacation.
Wilson is a mistake. They don’t need him. Winston and a rookie would have been fine. At least with Winston we would lose a lot of exciting games. Winning 6 or 7 games with Wilson isn’t really progress in my eyes. Winston flinging the thing all over the place until the rookie is ready is a better plan. I like skipping Sanders too. Trade BACK for Dart while picking up extra picks. If he AND Winston are both awful, you’re in position for a QB next year and have added some useful pieces somewhere else in the process. It will be interspersed to see how thy handle this.