By Dianna Russini, Zac Jackson, Charlotte Carroll, Mike DeFabo and Cale Clinton
One of the top free-agent quarterbacks that has yet to sign this offseason is set to meet with two teams. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants will both host Russell Wilson, according to league sources.
Wilson, 36, is coming off a season with the Pittsburgh Steelers that saw him finish 6-5 over 11 regular season starts and end with the Steelers’ fourth wild-card loss in five years. Wilson finished with 2,482 passing yards, 16 passing touchdowns and five interceptions on a completion percentage of 63.7 percent, adding 155 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion is the No. 4 quarterback and No. 43 overall player on The Athletic’s updated top 150 free agency rankings.
The Browns have already made several quarterback moves this offseason. In addition to restructuring Deshaun Watson’s contract, Cleveland also acquired backup quarterback Kenny Pickett via a trade that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Philadelphia Eagles. Watson, Pickett and Bailey Zappe are the three quarterbacks currently on Cleveland’s roster. The Browns would need to take a hefty cap hit to move on from Watson, who is recovering from an Achilles injury. A post-June 1 cut for Watson would lead to $82.9 million in dead money and a cap hit of $46 million, according to Over the Cap.
The New York Giants are still very much in the market for a quarterback, with only Tommy DeVito rostered at the position. New York has been connected to Wilson as well as former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has also been tied to quarterback vacancies in Pittsburgh and Minnesota. However, Rodgers’ decision is reportedly “a waiting game,” according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Mike Silver.
While Wilson is taking visits with former teams, he previously expressed that he would “hopefully finish (his) career” with the Steelers during an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show.” While team president Art Rooney began the offseason open to signing Wilson or Justin Fields, who both started games for the Steelers in 2024, general manager Omar Khan left things open-ended during his combine media availability. Fields has since signed with the New York Jets.
A QB-needy Browns team explores all options
The Browns need a starting quarterback for 2025 — or at least the start of 2025. Wilson and the Browns always felt like at least a potential match because the Browns are desperate and always had a short list of realistic options. That list remains short, and with Wilson still a free agent, the sides exploring a potential deal makes sense. Right now, Kenny Pickett is the only healthy quarterback the Browns have under contract.
The Browns certainly will draft a quarterback next month, but Wilson could be at least the temporary starter with the potential to keep the job for all or most of the 2025 season. It makes sense that Wilson will meet with both the Browns and Giants, even if the meetings don’t really excite either fan base. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
Giants can’t afford to miss on another QB
The Giants are desperate for a quarterback. They’ve got only DeVito on the roster so they need a quality starter, especially cause there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to secure their pick at the position with the No. 3 pick and two QB needy teams in front of them. The franchise missed out on Matthew Stafford and with the other QB dominos falling, everyone, including the Giants is waiting on Aaron Rodgers decision.
Enter Wilson, who visited New York, last offseason and could be the veteran bridge the Giants are looking for. But now, the worry for NY, is a top option even going to be around? — Charlotte Carroll, Giants beat writer
Where do the Steelers fall in hunt for Wilson?
Shortly after the Steelers’ season ended, Rooney said that it was his “preference” to re-sign either Wilson or Fields. Khan reiterated that sentiment at the combine, while adding that the team would keep all options on the table.
In reality, rather than actually choosing between Fields or Wilson, it appears the Steelers were using the 13-year veteran as leverage and a backup plan more than anything else. After watching Fields walk out the door, the Steelers have shown little urgency to get a deal done with Wilson, instead waiting on Aaron Rodgers to make his decision. Now, Wilson is beginning to formulate his own contingency plan. By meeting with outside teams, he’s preparing for the possibility that a return to Pittsburgh never materializes and taking control of his own situation rather than waiting around like the Steelers are.
If the Steelers sign Rodgers, maybe the way they’ve approached this situation won’t matter. But if Rodgers goes to another team and the Steelers try to circle back to Wilson, will he be OK returning, or feel slighted to the point that he signs elsewhere? — Mike DeFabo, Steelers beat writer
Required reading
(Photo: Joe Sargent / Getty Images)
