Russell Wilson, Giants agree to one-year deal, source says
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson throws a pass during the team's OTA in Pittsburgh on May 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
Russell Wilson won his only Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium in 2014 with the Seahawks, defeating the Broncos.
Now he'll spend more time at the scene of one of his top career achievements.
The Giants agreed to terms with Russell Wilson on Tuesday, a league source confirmed to Newsday. Wilson will sign a one-year contract worth up to $21 million with $10.5 million guaranteed, per multiple reports.
Wilson met with the Giants on March 14, a day after meeting with the Browns. He also met with the team last offseason before the team elected to sign Drew Lock.
This time, the Giants got Wilson, who’ll join his third team in three seasons. The agreement comes after the team signed Jameis Winston, who they also met with earlier this month.
Winston’s two-year, $8 million deal didn’t seem to signal he’d be the guaranteed starter. Wilson, however, fits that label better after starting 11 games last season for the Steelers.
Wilson, 36, went 6-5 as a starter after missing the first six games with a calf injury. He threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns with five interceptions. The Steelers won six of his first seven starts but ended with five straight losses, including a 28-14 playoff loss to the Ravens.
Wilson reached his 10th Pro Bowl despite career lows in games, yards and touchdowns. He’ll also hare New York with his former Steelers backup Justin Fields, who signed with the Jets this month.
In a 26-18 win over the Giants last season, Wilson was 20-for-28 with 278 yards, one touchdown pass and no interceptions despite being sacked four times.
“I think he's been . . . noted as having a great deep ball. I love that, of course,” receiver Darius Slayton said of Wilson this month. “Other than that, he's somebody who has won in this league. He's played well in this league for a long time. Played well last year for the Steelers, so clearly, he’s still got gas in the tank.”
By bringing in Wilson, the Giants exited the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes. Rodgers visited with Steelers coaches and personnel last Friday but has yet to decide where he’ll spend his 21st season, with retirement also being an option.
The Giants considered Rodgers among their options after Matthew Stafford re-signed with the Rams. They also hosted Wilson, Winston and Joe Flacco for formal visits but hadn’t done so with Rodgers, who spent the last two seasons with the Jets.
Instead, they’ll roll with Wilson, who carries less off-field baggage and is known for his leadership, faith and community service. The Giants now have three quarterbacks on the roster after re-signing Tommy DeVito to a one-year deal.
With Wilson and Winston, there's a good chance the Giants could start a Black quarterback in their season opener for the first time in franchise history. Only two Black quarterbacks, Geno Smith and Tyrod Taylor, have started a game for the Giants.
In his career, Wilson’s thrown for 46,135 yards and 350 touchdowns with 111 interceptions for the Seahawks, Broncos and Steelers. His record as a starter is 121-77-1 and his teams have been to playoffs nine times in his 13 seasons.
Wilson also led the Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, losing to the Patriots the year after his success at MetLife.
“The numbers are pretty interesting in terms of 20-yard touchdown passes over the last five years,” coach Brian Daboll said of Wilson ahead of facing him last October. “He's right up there at the top. He's got great arc and places the ball. He gives the guys chances. I've seen that plenty when we've gone against him.”
Wilson had 40 completions of at least 20 yards last season while the Giants had 34, tying them with the Patriots for fewest in the league.
They also return 10 of 11 offensive starters from last year, seeming to signal a better quarterback can change everything. Yet while Wilson adds pedigree to the quarterback room, neither he nor Winston appear to be Giants’ long-term answer.
That answer could come in April as they hold the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. The Giants have eyes on Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and team personnel attended Ward’s Pro Day on Monday.
Ward could likely be the No. 1 pick to the Titans so Sanders could be a more viable option. President/CEO John Mara stated in January the Giants’ No. 1 priority was finding “our quarterback of the future.”
Time will tell along with what the Browns do with the No. 2 pick. For now, the Giants have their quarterback of the present in Wilson to add to what they have in Winston.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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