Giants, Russell Wilson Reach Agreement On One-Year Deal
The New York Giants and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $21 million on Tuesday, including $10.5 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 10-time Pro Bowler had been in talks with the Giants, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers but has chosen the G-Men, where he will be their projected starter heading into the 2025 season. The 36-year-old veteran had two underwhelming seasons for the Denver Broncos in 2022-23 before throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 regular-season starts for Pittsburgh in 2024. Wilson got a late start last year due to a nagging calf injury. He initially gave the Steelers offense a spark but overall was mostly underwhelming. Russ will have one of the best young wideouts in the game to throw deep balls to in Malik Nabers, but he's unlikely to suddenly become an every-week QB1 in fantasy at this stage of his career. The Giants also added veteran Jameis Winston last week and could still take a QB with the third overall pick of April's NFL draft.
Free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson remains on the New York Giants' radar despite the fact that the team signed veteran QB Jameis Winston this week, according to multiple sources. Winston was specifically signed to be the backup signal-caller in New York (he received $4 million per year), so Wilson should not be ruled out. The sources also said the Giants technically are also still in the mix for free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers, but that it currently "seems unlikely" he'll go there. Even if the G-Men also sign Wilson, it won't rule them out from taking a rookie quarterback in this year's NFL draft -- the Giants have the No. 3 overall pick and have been rumored to be keen on trading up to No. 1 overall. The 36-year-old Wilson has visited both the Giants and Browns, and he could still be an option to re-sign with the Steelers if Rodgers decides to retire. Wilson could mesh nicely with Malik Nabers in New York, but he'd be a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he signs with the Giants.
ESPN's Adam Schefter says that with the Cleveland Browns being limited financially in what they can do since they have so much money tied up in quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles), they probably can't offer free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson what the Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Giants can. As a result, the Steelers and Giants sound a bit more plausible as landing spots for Wilson for the time being, per Schefter. There's currently no urgency for the Steelers and Giants to sign Wilson, especially as they wait to see whether the Minnesota Vikings will get involved with Aaron Rodgers. The best-case scenario for the 36-year-old Wilson from fantasy perspective would be a return to Pittsburgh, but that would mean Rodgers would have land in Minnesota or New York. Regardless of where Wilson is playing in 2025, the declining veteran will most likely be a low-end QB2 in fantasy if he's the starter.
Following a visit with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson will visit with the New York Giants on Friday, a source told The Cleveland Plain Dealer's May Kay Cabot. Wilson is making the rounds but is essentially waiting for free-agent QB Aaron Rodgers to make his decision. Rodgers is deciding between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Giants, although the Minnesota Vikings could also jump into the fray. The 36-year-old veteran is still in the mix to re-sign with the Steelers after Justin Fields agreed to a two-year deal with the New York Jets, but a reunion will only be on the table if Rodgers doesn't choose Pittsburgh. If Rodgers doesn't land in Pittsburgh, a return to the Steel City would make the most sense for Wilson, especially after they acquired Pro Bowl receiver DK Metcalf last weekend. Wilson could pair nicely with receiver Malik Nabers in New York, but he wouldn't be much more than a midrange QB2, at best, in fantasy.
Free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson is scheduled to fly to Cleveland on Wednesday night to visit with the Browns on Thursday, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. Wilson will then fly to New York on Thursday night to visit with the Giants on Friday. The Steelers were unable to re-sign Justin Fields -- he landed a two-year deal with the New York Jets -- but it appears Pittsburgh is now more interested in signing Aaron Rodgers than running it back with Wilson. That leaves the Browns and Giants as the most likely landing spots for the 36-year-old signal-caller, who threw for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 starts for the Steelers in 2024. He's become more of a low-end QB2 in fantasy at this point in his career, but a move to Cleveland, where he'd competing with Kenny Pickett for the starting job, would be the least attractive from a fantasy perspective.
Titans Don't Have Strong Interest In Russell Wilson
While the Tennessee Titans have Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson on their radar, Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson writes that he gets the sense that the Titans don't have strong interest in him. Robinson believes Wilson's market beyond the New York Giants is pretty flat at the moment, and University of Miami QB Cam Ward remains in play for the team if they keep the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Cleveland Browns traded for Kenny Pickett on Monday, but it's not out of the question that they'd add Wilson as competition under center for 2025 with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) unlikely to play at all. The Steelers seem intent on going after future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers instead of running it back with Wilson after he lost the final five games of the year. The 36-year-old can still throw a great deep ball but doesn't have a lot left otherwise. Landing in New York and working with Malik Nabers would be a best-case scenario for his diminishing fantasy value.
The New York Giants are exploring several quarterback options this offseason, including future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, and are also in on Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent QB Russell Wilson, per FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The Steelers continue to maintain open dialogue with both Wilson and Justin Fields, who is also a free agent, with the hopes of re-signing one of them. However, the common understanding around the league is that the Steelers prefer to keep Fields over Wilson, even though Wilson took over for Fields in 2024 and ended up starting 11 games. Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler, gave the Steelers offense a spark but finished the year on a five-game losing streak. The 36-year-old is nearing the end of his career and doesn't have much fantasy upside left in the tank, although he would be a nice match for receiver Malik Nabers, who had 1,204 yards and seven TDs in his rookie season in 2024.
The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta writes that the Seattle Seahawks won't be pursuing Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson despite trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday. Apparently, Seattle has no interest in a reunion with Wilson. Their top target is expected to be Minnesota Vikings impending free-agent QB Sam Darnold, who had a career year in Minnesota in 2024 after signing on as a one-year bridge signal-caller last offseason. Most folks were connecting the dots and projecting that Wilson would land with old head coach Pete Carroll in Vegas with the Raiders, but that' also out the window now that they just traded for Smith. If Pittsburgh elects to re-sign the younger Justin Fields and let Wilson walk in free agency this offseason, his best bets could be the New York Giants or New York Jets.
Reunion Between Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll Is Unlikely
A source told The Associated Press' Rob Maaddi that a reunion between Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent quarterback Russell Wilson and new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is unlikely. The Steelers are looking to re-sign one of Wilson or free-agent QB Justin Fields, but all indications so far are that their preference is to retain the younger Fields. The 36-year-old Wilson initially gave the Steelers a spark when he took over as the starter in Pittsburgh last year for Fields, but he collapsed down the stretch and is no longer the QB he once was in Seattle with Carroll. If Wilson doesn't return to the Steelers, his most likely landing spots could be either the New York Giants or New York Jets as they potentially look for a veteran bridge starter for a year or two. Wilson started 11 games in 2024 and threw for 2,482 yards while throwing 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Steelers Prefer Justin Fields Over Russell Wilson?
The sense that ESPN's Jeremy Fowler has gotten is that quarterback Justin Fields has an edge over veteran Russell Wilson in the Pittsburgh Steelers' free-agent QB pecking order this offseason. Fowler goes on to write that there is sentiment for Fields in the building, and both sides would be open to a return. However, the team isn't ruling out Wilson, and they still have another week before deciding how to move forward in free agency. Even if the Steelers don't bring Fields back, he'll have options on the open market. The New York Jets are expected to gauge his market, and he could also be a nice fit for the Las Vegas Raiders. Although Wilson gave the Steelers more offensive upside when he took over under center in 2024, Fields is a more dynamic athlete at this point and is younger. The 25-year-old went 4-2 with 1,106 passing yards, five TDs and a pick in his six starts while also running for 289 yards and five TDs.