On his way to Pittsburgh to meet with the Steelers on Friday, Russell Wilson reportedly stopped in New Jersey for an “exploratory meeting” with the New York Giants.
The ESPN report included a between-visits photo of the soon-to-be free agent quarterback in the Newark airport.
Earlier this week, the Denver Broncos gave Wilson permission to seek a new employer before they officially release him when the 2024 NFL league year begins on Wednesday. The Broncos are facing a huge dead-cap hit of $85 million but can save some money if the 35-year-old veteran lands a new deal.
The Giants appear to be in the quarterback market, either through April’s target-rich draft or free agency, despite giving incumbent starter Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million contract extension last March.
Jones, 26, made only six starts and finished the 2023 season on injured reserve with a torn right ACL. He is 22-36-1 as the starter since being drafted sixth overall in 2019, leading New York to only one playoff appearance in that span.
Meanwhile, multiple outlets reported Thursday that there is mutual interest between Wilson and the Steelers.
Signing Wilson — or Kirk Cousins or trading for Justin Fields, for that matter — would indicate that Pittsburgh isn’t convinced that Kenny Pickett can lead them to a Super Bowl. Wilson took Seattle to a pair of Super Bowls during a decorated decade with the Seahawks, winning a championship at Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
When Pickett, their 2022 first-round draft pick, got injured in December, backup Mason Rudolph took over and led the Steelers (10-7) to the playoffs with three straight wins. Rudolph is an unrestricted free agent.
Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, was benched for the last two games of the 2023 season to avoid an injury that would trigger guarantees in his contract. He posted an 11-19 record in 30 starts with the Broncos.
He won 104 regular-season games as the starter in Seattle and has passed for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions in 188 career contests. He has added 5,307 rushing yards and 29 scores.
–Field Level Media