Russell Wilson

Giants To Sign QB Russell Wilson

March 25th, 2025 at 10:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants’ depth chart at quarterback is coming into focus. Despite adding Jameis Winston, the team will bring in Russell Wilson. After visiting the Giants in back-to-back years, Wilson is coming aboard, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Wilson has since confirmed the agreement.

Wilson will receive $10.5MM guaranteed on a one-year deal, per Schefter, who adds the nine-time Pro Bowler can earn up to $21MM via incentives. Wilson had been waiting to sign for a bit, standing behind Aaron Rodgers in line among veteran quarterbacks.

This move effectively takes the Giants out of the Rodgers market. It had become fairly clear Rodgers did not view the Giants as a desirable destination, despite the team making what is believed to be his top offer this offseason. Nevertheless, the Vikings and Steelers have been more closely tied to the all-time QB talent compared to a team coming off a 3-14 season. And the Giants will move on. The Steelers had expected Rodgers to visit the Giants, via SI.com’s Albert Breer, but that no longer appears to be in play.

Wilson, 36, had viewed the Giants as a viable landing spot dating back to early February, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds. Back in 2021, he had also placed the Giants as a team he was interested in landing with via trade. He visited the team briefly in 2024, instead joining the Steelers while the Giants made a final attempt to make the Daniel Jones contract work. With Jones long gone, Wilson will be all but certain to start in Week 1 for the 2025 Giants.

Winston is now in place as a quality backup, and the team will undoubtedly still look into QB prospects. Though, a report earlier today indicated the Giants may be OK signing another vet and looking at passers available after No. 3 overall. Part one of that scenario is now complete.

For Wilson, this provides a landing spot after he had been forced by the Giants and his 2024 team to wait on Rodgers. The Steelers had aimed to re-sign Justin Fields, but they could not keep Wilson’s primary 2024 backup off the market. Fields joined the Jets, and Wilson will now follow his former teammate to the Big Apple. The Rodgers watch continues, but it will now be Steelers, Vikings or retirement for the 20-year veteran.

This agreement should qualify as a relief for Wilson, who was effectively deemed a replaceable option by the Steelers, who ranked Fields and Rodgers ahead of him. Wilson has not closely resembled his superstar Seattle version since departing in a 2022 blockbuster trade, though he has shown flashes. This includes a five-game win streak with the 2023 Broncos and having the Steelers — with an early assist from Fields — at 10-3 last season. But Pittsburgh sank to 10-8, losing a one-sided wild-card game in Baltimore. This prompted a reexamination from the Steelers, who have made it known they are willing to wait on Rodgers. With the Giants out of the way, that should probably embolden the Steelers, who clearly have some confidence Rodgers — his Vikings preference notwithstanding — remains in play.

The Browns joined the Giants in hosting Wilson, while Joe Flacco also visited New York about being a Giants bridge. A weekend report indicated the Giants would still pursue veterans even after Winston’s two-year, $8MM deal came to pass. This should offer protection in the event the draft board does not fall the Giants’ way.

It is not a lock Shedeur Sanders will be available at No. 3 overall, with the Colorado product linked closely to Cleveland as well. The Giants have shown interest in trading up to No. 1 overall, but Titans-Cam Ward ties are increasing. Ward may not be available, and while the Giants have been continually tied to Sanders, Wilson could offer some cover in the event an embattled Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll regime goes with a non-QB move in Round 1.

After a shocking decline marred Wilson’s 2022, he showed signs of life under Sean Payton in 2023. Wilson, who battled multiple injuries in 2022, did not miss any starts due to injury in ’23. He ranked eighth in passer rating, but QBR only slotted him 21st. While a slimmed-down Wilson showed an increased interest in running during his ill-fated season with Payton, the Broncos attempted to move his guarantee vesting date — to no avail — during a messy divorce that began midway through the ’23 season. Wilson remained the Broncos’ starter for 15 games, but the team benched him to protect an injury guarantee from vesting in Week 17. Denver then took on a record-smashing $83MM-plus in dead money to drop Wilson in March 2024.

QBR placed Wilson 22nd last season. Wilson had won the starting job over Fields to start the season, but the accomplished vet aggravated a training camp calf injury that led to six missed games. Select Steelers staffers and players voiced support to keep Fields in the starting lineup, but Mike Tomlin overruled them, installing Wilson. At first, the longtime Steeler HC’s choice proved correct. Wilson piloted Pittsburgh to six wins in his first seven starts. Rumblings about a Steelers re-signing emerged during that stretch, one that included a game-winning TD pass (to Mike Williams) to down the resurgent Commanders and a 414-yard outing against the Bengals. As the competition stiffened, however, the Steelers wilted. This led them to go another way, installing Wilson as a fallback option.

Having previously rostered another QB on the Hall of Fame fringe, in New York icon Eli Manning, the Giants now look to have another. Wilson may have done enough to secure Canton access in Seattle, but his Denver decline invited some doubt. As Wilson has declined athletically, his penchant for taking sacks has been under the microscope. Wilson’s 560 sacks taken are fourth all time, though Rodgers’ 571 top the list. A Giants O-line that has been unable to rely on All-Pro LT Andrew Thomas will now be tasked with protecting a historically sack-prone passer.

That said, Wilson being the first QB in NFL history to pair 40,000 passing yards with 5,000 rushing yards will help his eventual Canton case. A two-time Super Bowl starter who powered the Seahawks to eight playoff berths in his 10-season Seattle stay, Wilson also remains fourth in NFL history for rushing yards by a quarterback (5,462). The former third-round pick’s best rushing days are certainly far behind him.

Armed with another chance to submit quality work, the 14th-year passer will now play with Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton in New York. The Giants are likely on the hunt for more tight end help, but they re-signed Slayton and chose Nabers over J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix last year. Wilson is now the Giants’ bridge while Schoen and Co. assess the 2025 draft class.

Warming the seat for Sanders would represent new territory for Wilson, who has never needed to fend off a rookie for his job. The Steelers gave Wilson assurances upon signing he would be their Week 1 starter; only injury prevented that. How the Giants proceed in the draft will determine how long of a leash Wilson likely has, but despite a down Steelers ending, he has secured a chance to add to his 199-start total.

Latest On Giants, Russell Wilson; Team Open To Adding QB After No. 3 Overall?

March 25th, 2025 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Linked to being interested in trading up to No. 1 overall, the Giants may see such a path blocked off thanks to the Titans’ increased interest in Cam Ward. As the Titans schedule another meeting with the Miami quarterback, other teams may need to come to grips with the possibility last year’s No. 4 Heisman finisher will not be available.

The Giants continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers, but as of Sunday, they still look to be sitting third here. Rodgers has visited the Steelers and has been closely tied to the Vikings, who have him on hold for what could be an extended period. The Giants are not viewed as likely to sign Rodgers, but SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates their Jameis Winston addition would not preempt a deal with the four-time MVP.

This is similar to what emerged over the weekend, but Breer does stop short in confirming the Giants would have interest in adding Russell Wilson after the Winston signing. With the Browns potentially waiting on Kirk Cousins, Wilson may be waiting a while, Breer adds. Still eyeing a veteran — even if it is not Rodgers — the Vikings could conceivably loom as a landing spot. For now, however, they will evaluate J.J. McCarthy with their first-stringers during the offseason. The Steelers also loom as a Wilson landing spot, having placed him behind Rodgers in their QB hierarchy.

While Wilson is ready to sign somewhere, having visited the Giants and Browns, it is possible the potential Hall of Famer will need to prepare for an extended stay in free agency. Clearer pictures of teams’ depth charts will emerge post-draft, but that also opens the door to the possibility of teams filling their spots and being less interested in a surefire starter to block a prospect’s path. Then again, this is not viewed as a good quarterback draft.

The Giants did send a sizable contingent to Ward’s pro day Monday, with Breer adding Joe Schoen, assistant GM Brandon Brown, player personnel director Tim McDonnell, OC Mike Kafka, QBs coach Shea Tierney and tight ends coach Tim Kelly were on-hand. (The Hurricanes also have a higher-end tight end prospect in Elijah Arroyo.) Schoen and Tierney, however, were in Louisville today for Tyler Shough‘s pro day, Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline adds.

Shough has generated some recent buzz, having already scheduled visits with the Browns and Seahawks. The Giants would not seemingly be in play for Shough at No. 3, but they are not committed to taking a quarterback there. Some around the league view the Giants as in play to sign another veteran and draft a quarterback after No. 3 overall, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. Considering Schoen and Brian Daboll‘s tenuous job statuses, it would be an incredible gamble to leave the first round without a quarterback. But the team would — in the event the Titans go with Ward — be positioned to add either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at No. 3 if it stays put.

New York could also trade down from 3, and with either Hunter or Carter on the board, offers figure to come in during a draft that may well feature a talent drop-off after that duo. The Giants sliding down the board a bit could give them a chance to add assets — potentially for a QB in the 2026 draft — or select one of this class’ other QB prospects.

Linked closely to Shedeur Sanders, the Giants moving out of No. 3 could nix a partnership with the Colorado product. Though, the Browns have also been linked to Sanders at 2. The draft starting QB-QB would leave the Giants in an uncertain position. Moving down would open the door to Shough, Jaxson Dart or Quinn Ewers. Shough has created enough pre-draft noise to cause teams to circle back to the work they did on him during the season, Dunleavy adds.

Shough’s momentum aside, Daniel Jeremiah and Matt Miller‘s latest NFL.com and ESPN.com big boards respectively do not have the 2024 Louisville starter — a seven-year college athlete — in the top 50. Dart has received some first-round buzz, and he ranks 40th on Jeremiah’s big board and 43rd on Miller’s.

The Giants attempted to trade up for Drake Maye last year, but the Patriots declined a strong offer. Big Blue then passed on McCarthy, Michael Penix and Bo Nix. Miller ranked each member of that trio higher than Ward on a composite prospect rankings list earlier this month, running the risk of the Giants — as they did with Daniel Jones — choosing their QB in the wrong year. With Schoen and Daboll on hot seats, it would seem likely they leave Round 1 with a quarterback. If not, the team holds the No. 34 overall pick and two third-round choices.

As for the Giants’ other options if Rodgers says no, Wilson has now visited twice in two offseasons. The team also hosted Joe Flacco on a visit this month. Drew Lock, who played out a one-year Giants deal, remains in free agency as well. Plenty of moving parts still exist for the Giants, though they have not yet made a move that truly takes them out of the Rodgers running.

NFL QB Rumors: Rodgers, Wilson, Ward

March 22nd, 2025 at 11:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday, we saw free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet with a Steelers contingent that featured general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The presence of all of the team’s top personnel was interesting to see as the three missed Michigan’s pro day to meet with the 41-year-old passer. The top brass in Pittsburgh tends to all be in attendance for big pro days, and the Wolverines are stacked with first round talent like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland.

While it may seem like Rodgers leaving without a deal made the meeting unproductive, it appears the meeting wasn’t intended to be about contract negotiations. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Steelers and Rodgers “have had contract parameters in place for weeks.” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer adds that money discussions are not “expected to get in the way” when it comes to a decision.

The visit was reportedly less about discussions on compensation and more about conversations on fit and Rodgers getting the feel of the Steelers’ leadership and culture. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the six-hour visit was a positive one, and the two sides will remain in touch, though the decision is ultimately in Rodgers’ hands.

Here are a couple other rumors concerning the teams still looking for quarterback help this offseason:

With Pittsburgh pushing all their chips in on Rodgers, it’s become apparent that Russell Wilson has been deemed a backup option for the Steelers, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Wilson is still getting plenty of interest from the Browns and Giants, who despite signing Jameis Winston yesterday, have not been ruled out from signing another veteran passer and/or drafting a rookie quarterback as they begin to rebuild their quarterbacks room from scratch.
Speaking of pro days, Fowler tells us that the Titans will be sending the calvary to Coral Gables for Miami quarterback Cam Ward‘s pro day this Monday. While there has been a lot of momentum for Ward to go No. 1 overall to Nashville, Fowler says that a determination has not yet been made by the Titans. The team still intends to undergo a very thorough determination process, but so far, through interviews at the NFL scouting combine, Ward has acquitted himself well, showing some mistake recognition and coachability to go along with his natural talent.
An interesting note from Fowler adds that, in a perfect world, Tennessee would love to be able to trade back and still land Ward, but there’s worry that he wouldn’t still be around after moving back, perfectly illustrating how position need and importance can inflate a player’s draft stock. Regardless, the sense around the league is that Ward has far and away separated himself from the rest of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.

Browns To Host Tyler Shough On Top-30 Visit; QB Met With Seahawks

March 22nd, 2025 at 11:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Armed with the second-overall pick in the draft, the Browns are in prime position to land either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. However, there’s another QB who’s rapidly climbing up draft boards, and the Browns will take an extended look at the prospect.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are hosting Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough for a top-30 visit. The organization may simply be doing their due diligence at the position in case they opt for someone like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick. However, Cabot hints that Shough’s chances of going second aren’t “as far-fetched as [they] might seem.”

Shough is one of the more intriguing names on the draft board. The QB has seven years of college experience in stops at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville. He had a true breakout season in 2023, completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Shough has already drawn the attention of draft pundits; as Cabot notes, Greg Cosell has lauded the player’s size and NFL readiness, while Louis Riddick has discounted the player’s injury history in favor of his upside. This won’t be Shough’s first visit; the QB visited with the Seahawks earlier this week, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

With Ward expected to go first-overall, the Browns have often been connected to Sanders with the second-overall pick. As Cabot notes, the front office hasn’t been quiet about their affection for the Colorado QB, and Deion Sanders has also endorsed a move to Cleveland. However, Cabot cautions that if the organization determines they prefer Shough over Sanders, they may not have the flexibility to select a non-QB with the No. 2 pick and then swing a trade to acquire a QB prospect later in the draft. There’s also a chance the team looks at other quarterback options like Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe.

At 25-years-old, Shough would surely make some Browns fans queasy considering their track record with older prospects (apologies to Brandon Weeden). The front office may have a tough time convincing fans to pivot the second-overall pick to someone like Shough, and the organization could be better off taking someone like Carter or Hunter at No. 2 with the hope of landing a QB later on.

It will be interesting to see if the team’s free agency approach will impact their draft plans. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this morning that the Browns remain interested in Russell Wilson, and adding both a veteran and a rookie would make for a crowded QBs room. While Deshaun Watson‘s future with the organization is uncertain, the Browns already made one move for a veteran this offseason in Kenny Pickett.

Jameis Winston Signing Won’t Preclude Giants From Additional QB Moves

March 22nd, 2025 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants finally added a quarterback yesterday when they agreed to terms with Jameis Winston. While the veteran acquisition would seem to represent a bridge option for the organization, the signing may not preclude the Giants from making additional big-name moves at the position.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the addition of Winston wouldn’t prevent the Giants from still adding a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson. In fact, even if the Giants do add another veteran to their QBs room, the team would still be expected to add a rookie signal caller with the third-overall pick.

This is similar to what we heard last week. As the Rodgers saga continued, there was a report that the Giants may pull the trigger on a free agent acquisition sooner than later. The team reportedly had an eye on Mason Rudolph, but after striking out on that pursuit, they landed a free agent with even more starting experience.

Winston’s two-year, $8MM agreement with the Giants is certainly in line (or even below) the going rate for backup quarterbacks. With 87 games of starting experience (including seven starts with the Browns in 2024), it was initially assumed that Winston would keep the seat warm for the No. 3 pick. Instead, a rookie acquisition could be redshirted for the 2025 campaign, and Winston could serve as a traditional QB2 to another free agent target.

As Rodgers took a long meeting with the Steelers yesterday, it’s seeming increasingly likely that the Giants’ chances are dwindling in that sweepstakes. Still, there remains a connection between New York and Wilson. Fowler says the veteran QB still views the Giants as a “viable option,” and considering opportunities are starting to dry up around the NFL, Wilson may have to ultimately take what he can get.

With Winston joining Tommy DeVito on the roster, there’s now less urgency for the Giants to make a splash at the position, especially if they intend to use the third-overall pick on a quarterback. However, Winston’s signing does provide the organization with a bit more flexibility, and there’s a good chance the front office isn’t finished reshaping their QBs room.

Mutual Interest Between Browns, Carson Wentz; Joe Flacco Still On Radar

March 19th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Passing on Carson Wentz nine years ago eventually led the Browns to Baker Mayfield. With Mayfield long gone and the player brought in to replace him — Deshaun Watson — on an albatross contract and potentially out for the season, the Browns are still shopping for a veteran.

Kenny Pickett is on Cleveland’s roster, but the team almost definitely needs another option to sell to its fanbase as a Week 1 starter. Although squarely on the radar to draft a passer at No. 2 overall, the Browns hosted Russell Wilson. Giving Wilson another chance to start remains on the Browns’ radar, as they are part of this Aaron Rodgers domino arrangement. The Browns, however, do not appear to be interested in Rodgers.

The second domino to fall once Rodgers makes his decision — potentially between retirement, the Steelers or the Giants, should the Vikings indeed pass — Wilson appears the Browns’ preference. But the Giants and Steelers are also hovering for the former Pro Bowler. If Wilson passes on the Browns, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports Carson Wentz would become a realistic option. Mutual interest “definitely” exists between the former No. 2 overall pick and the Browns.

Wentz, 32, is obviously far removed from the prospect he was coming out of North Dakota State and has slipped well off the pace from his outlier 2017 season — one that likely would have secured him an MVP had he stayed healthy. The 2024 Chiefs backup was last seen taking the snaps in a 38-0 Kansas City loss to a Denver team playing starters most of the way. But Wentz has plenty of starter experience. He could be a bridge option for the Browns, though this setup would seemingly ramp up the pressure for Cleveland to select a quarterback early in the draft.

As of Sunday, the Browns had not necessarily submitted Wilson an offer, Cabot adds (subscription required). It still appears fairly clear Wilson would be Cleveland’s choice over Wentz, who has not been viewed as a starter since the Commanders benched him late in the 2022 season. Wentz made Week 18 starts with the Rams and Chiefs over the past two years, but he has 94 under his belt as a pro. Certainly not a particularly exciting option at this stage of his career, Wentz looms as an option to join Pickett if Wilson opts for New York or Pittsburgh.

Wentz may not be the next choice for the Browns, however, with Cabot indicating during an appearance on 92.3 The Fan’s Baskin & Phelps (audio link) that a Joe Flacco return remains an option. We heard over the weekend Flacco was back in play with the Browns, who did not submit him an offer to stay — as they made a last-ditch attempt to salvage the Watson sunk cost — last year. Even at 40, Flacco is still drawing interest and appears likely to land a chair as teams scramble for stopgaps.

A plan in which Pickett is the only veteran starter option for the Browns does not appear in play, Cabot adds, though she cautious that money is an object. The Browns have $10MM-plus in cap space, but they obviously still would need to carve out almost that much for their draft class. Kirk Cousins had loomed as an option, but the Falcons are holding onto him as a trade asset.

Cousins, who played for Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota, saw $10MM of his 2026 salary become guaranteed Sunday. But that is subject to offset, meaning the Falcons will hope to bill another team in the event of a trade. The Browns are not in a good position to be taking on that kind of money, as Watson’s guarantees run through 2026. An unfathomable dead money number, thanks to a fourth Watson restructure, would come into play if the Browns cut the wildly disappointing QB next year.

The Giants or Steelers could potentially price Wilson out of Cleveland, especially if a bidding war commences should Rodgers retire. Flacco and Wentz would come cheaper. Ditto Jameis Winston, though Cabot views a Winston return as unlikely. Benched as the Browns careened toward the No. 2 overall pick, Winston left his Giants visit without a deal.

Russell Wilson Prepared To Sign; Steelers, Giants Waiting On Aaron Rodgers’ Decision

March 15th, 2025 at 10:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top free agent storyline around the league remains Aaron Rodgers‘ next destination. That could be the Vikings, although it remains to be seen if they will match his willingness to take a Minnesota deal.

Retirement is also an option for the 41-year-old, but if does elect to play – and the Vikings decline to submit an offer – the Steelers and Giants loom as interested suitors. Both Pittsburgh and New York have made a pitch to sign Rodgers, with the latter’s believed to be the best one on the table. Much of the remaining movement at the quarterback position will likely wait until after this situation reaches a conclusion.

In the case of Russell Wilson, his landing spot therefore remains uncertain for the time being. That is not due to hesitation on the player’s part, however. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Wilson is ready to sign at any time, a notable update given his recent Browns and Giants visits (video link).

The 10-time Pro Bowler met with Cleveland on Thursday and then New York yesterday. The Browns have already made one move under center by trading for Kenny Pickett, but they are still in the market for another passer. The Giants are also set to make multiple additions, a factor which explains the strong Rodgers pursuit as well as their continued interest in Wilson. Prior to the former Seahawk and Bronco’s decision to take a one-year Steelers pact last offseason, he met with the Giants. As Fowler notes, though, Wilson’s market is on hold until the Rodgers domino falls.

Handling starting duties since from Week 7 onwards, Wilson saw his play (and that of the team in general) decline at the end of the 2024 campaign. Justin Fields – who had support from some in the building to stay atop the depth chart even when Wilson’s calf injury healed – was widely viewed as Pittsburgh’s preference to retain over the veteran this spring. Fields ultimately took a two-year Jets deal, though, leaving Wilson in play as a fallback option should Rodgers not head to Pittsburgh.

Whereas Rodgers has a number of options to consider, Wilson’s market seems to be more limited. The 36-year-old has not been connected to the Vikings yet, while a report from earlier this week indicated the Titans are not interested despite their need for Will Levis competition. Provided one of Pittsburgh or New York end up acquiring Rodgers, the other could pivot to Wilson in short order.

Given the offset money left from his Broncos pact, Wilson was able to sign for just $1.21MM with Pittsburgh last year. He will be aiming higher this time around, but no movement should be expected with respect to his market before Rodgers’ future is determined.

Browns, Giants To Meet With Russell Wilson

March 12th, 2025 at 11:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Russell Wilson may be behind Aaron Rodgers in the free agent QB pecking order, another team is showing interest. The Browns are preparing to meet with the 13-year veteran.

Wilson will travel to Cleveland tonight for a Thursday meeting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds the passer’s second Giants meeting in two years is set for Friday. The Giants have been linked to Wilson for a while, but they join the Steelers in waiting for a Rodgers answer.

When the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot indicated the ex-Steelers first-rounder would not automatically be the veteran that steers the ship while Deshaun Watson is out and before it is known a rookie QB is Cleveland-bound. The Browns are still believed to be looking into vets, and Wilson will qualify. Given teams’ preference of Rodgers over him, Wilson will also not stand to be a particularly pricey option at this stage of his career.

The Browns have been more closely connected to Kirk Cousins than Wilson, but as the 2025 league year begins and a $10MM Cousins payment is due, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is sticking to his guns on cuffing the QB as a high-priced backup. Teams were split on if that Atlanta strategy will continue, but Cousins is not coming up in trades and is not yet a free agent. Despite Kevin Stefanski’s past with Cousins, the 2012 fourth-round pick’s status may well be leading the Browns to look into a 2012 third-rounder.

Certainly not one to cool down drama, Rodgers is taking his time on a potential Pittsburgh-or-New York decision. That has affected Wilson, who is not believed to be a Titans target. The Vikings are also in the mix for a veteran stopgap, but a Browns fit would be quite interesting given the makeup of the team’s QB room. The Browns are needing to keep costs low because of their 2022 decision to give Watson a fully guaranteed $230MM. That trade came barely a week after the Broncos sent two first-rounders, two seconds and other assets to the Seahawks for Wilson. The Browns are considering carrying both players on the same roster.

Wilson, 36, is certainly more than a failed trade piece. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler who sits third all time in QB rushing yards. Mike Tomlin, against the wishes of some in the Steelers organization, installed Wilson as his starter for 11 games last season. Wilson threw 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Wilson finished 23rd in QBR, two spots ahead of Rodgers, and posted a better yards-per-attempt number (7.4) than the older great (6.7) as well. Never in Rodgers’ league as a pure passer, Wilson being five years younger may not matter too much right now for teams, either. But the Browns will consider Wilson ahead of a season when Watson figures to land on the reserve/PUP list.

The Giants met with Wilson before his Broncos release last year. The quick visit pertained to a QB who could push Daniel Jones, but Wilson became intrigued by a clearer shot to start in Pittsburgh. The Giants admitted defeat on Jones midway through last season and now need at least two QBs, as Tommy DeVito is the only one contracted. Despite Rodgers underwhelming as a Jet, the Giants are fairly desperate. If Rodgers chooses the Steelers or retires, the Giants may need to give Wilson strong consideration while they determine a draft path.

Titans Not Interested In Russell Wilson

March 12th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Even as we near the 2025 league year, Aaron Rodgers has commanded enough attention he is holding up the quarterback market. Set to turn 42 later this year, the all-time QB talent is believed to be the first choice of the Steelers and Giants. The Vikings are lurking, even if they do not appear the favorite here.

Wilson has emerged as a backup plan for the Steelers and likely the Giants as well (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). If Wilson does not land in New York or back in Pittsburgh, finding a fit may be difficult. Not connected to the Vikings, Wilson also does not look to be an option for the Titans. Tennessee is not interested in the 13-year veteran, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes.

The Titans were connected to Sam Darnold before the market opened, but the team was not viewed as likely to exceed $30MM per year for the 2024 Pro Bowler. The Seahawks did, giving Darnold a three-year, $100.5MM contract. Tennessee was not believed to be interested in a reclamation-project-type arm, pointing the team away from some of free agency’s options. Though, Wilson would not profile as such. The decorated ex-Seahawk is nearing the end of a great career; there is not much mystery to the 36-year-old passer at this point. Even though Wilson would provide the Titans with some veteran certainty, they are looking elsewhere.

Tennessee has not been closely tied to Rodgers, either. The team still has Will Levis and is open to bringing back Mason Rudolph. The Titans coming out of free agency without a starter-caliber veteran will point them to a quarterback in the first round. Holding the No. 1 overall pick, the Titans have Cam Ward backers in their building — even as trade-down rumors have swirled. A Shedeur Sanders selection would seemingly hinge on how far Tennessee moves down, should it opt to add assets in exchange for No. 1 overall.

The Steelers gave Wilson their starting job out of training camp. This, however, came as Justin Fields closed the gap between the two passers — after a stream of offseason assurances the job was Wilson’s — while the older QB battled a nagging calf injury. After aggravating the calf issue, Wilson missed six games. Player and assistant support for Fields to keep the gig existed, but Mike Tomlin “acted alone” in reinstalling Wilson. This route helped guide the Steelers to 10-3, but Wilson lost momentum after Pittsburgh’s season ended with a five-game losing streak. Wilson and OC Arthur Smith also clashed about the offensive direction, which reminds of Wilson’s issues late in his Seattle days and during his two-year Denver stint.

While Wilson has spoken to the Steelers about a deal, it was clear Fields was the team’s preference. The nine-time Pro Bowler may not be a slam-dunk Hall of Famer, after the past three seasons, but he is the NFL’s third-leading QB rusher and coming off a season in which he ranked 23rd in QBR (two spots north of Rodgers). Following a 16-TD, five-INT 11-game sample in Pittsburgh — at 7.4 yards per attempt, which is much higher than Rodgers’ 2024 number (6.7) — Wilson will not be guaranteed a starting job in 2025.

Russell Wilson Still In Play As Fallback Steelers Option; Aaron Rodgers Down To Two Teams?

March 11th, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers’ preference entering the negotiating period was to keep Justin Fields in place instead of Russell Wilson. That plan is no longer an option since the former agreed to a two-year Jets deal on Monday.

Wilson is still on the market, and he would obviously be a familiar option after spending the 2024 season as Pittsburgh’s starter (when healthy). The Steelers have become one of the suitors for Aaron Rodgers, however, and a deal could be in place soon. As talks on the Rodgers front continue, Wilson is not out of Pittsburgh’s plans yet.

Should the Rodgers negotiations break down, Wilson resides as a fallback option at this point, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. That might be a humbling position for a playoff team’s primary starter to reside, but Wilson looks to have other options. The Giants and Titans are believed to be interested, though New York is also in on Rodgers, who cannot officially be released until Wednesday afternoon. The Browns are also believed to still be eyeing a veteran, despite their Kenny Pickett acquisition.

A report Monday night indicated a Rodgers-Steelers deal could go down today, and SI.com’s Albert Breer said during a Rich Eisen Show segment the Steelers were fairly confident as of Monday that Rodgers would select them. The Giants remain in the mix, and Breer expects Rodgers to end up in Pittsburgh or to switch locker rooms at MetLife Stadium. The Giants have made their pitch and are indeed waiting on Rodgers’ decision, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes.

Although a weekend report connected the Vikings to Rodgers — in what would be an eerie parallel to the Brett Favre career path — Breer indicates he would be surprised if the future Hall of Famer ends up in Minnesota. That said, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano does not view the Vikings as out of this mix yet. This situation differs from last year’s Wilson decision and what could happen if the Falcons cut Kirk Cousins, as Rodgers could see a notable salary in 2025. The Broncos were already paying Wilson’s salary, while Cousins’ 2025 money is guaranteed as well.

The Steelers and Vikings are coming off playoff seasons and would be better positioned to complement Rodgers this year; that said, the Giants have been busy in free agency, most notably re-signing Darius Slayton and adding Jevon Holland and Paulson Adebo. While Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy and New York holds the No. 3 overall pick, Pittsburgh may be committed to a full season of Rodgers if he is to sign. The Steelers not holding a pick in the top 20 would stand to give them an advantage for Rodgers, who would not need to look over his shoulder at a prospect — in all likelihood — were he to choose Pittsburgh.

As for Wilson, waiting on Rodgers’ talks with the Steelers may not sit too well. The younger of the two aging options finished two spots higher in QBR (23rd to 25th) last season and piloted the team to the playoffs. The Steelers’ late-season collapse, however, has not reflected well on Wilson, who appears behind Rodgers with the Giants as well.

Decisions should come soon, but Rodgers having this much say in how the QB market plays, at 41 and coming off an underwhelming Jets tenure, is interesting. But teams are still intrigued by the all-time QB talent. He has a clear route to play a 21st season and remain a starter.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post

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