Depending on the latest rumor, the Pittsburgh Steelers may prefer to move on from starting quarterback Russell Wilson and either re-sign backup Justin Fields or target a veteran in free agency, such as Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons or Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets.
On Wednesday, NFL and New York Giants insider Connor Hughes of SNY shared that Wilson could sign with the NFC East side if the 36-year-old hits the open market when the new league year opens on March 12.
“The Giants had Wilson in for a visit last offseason before he ultimately signed with the Steelers — a place that offered and provided a better opportunity to start,” Hughes said. “There have been so many rumors linking Wilson to New York over the years, dating back to his time with the Seahawks, because of his celebrity wife Ciara’s love for the area. This could be the year that happens if the Steelers let him walk. Wilson could give the Giants a short-term fix under center as they develop a quarterback drafted in the first or second round.”
Wilson had what was described as “an exploratory meeting” with the Giants last March but signed with the Steelers partly because Big Blue reportedly refused to guarantee the one-time Super Bowl champion the starting job when Daniel Jones was still on the roster. While Wilson helped the 2024 Steelers go from 4-2 to 10-3 after he recovered from a lingering calf problem, his working relationship with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith seemingly fell apart as Pittsburgh ended the season with five straight losses.
Per Pro Football Reference, Wilson finished Week 18 ranked 26th in the NFL among qualified players with a 51.3 adjusted QBR and 17th with an average of 225.6 passing yards per game. He recorded 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions over 11 contests.
By all accounts, Wilson was a great mentor for Fields from springtime workouts through the playoffs. That’s important, as individuals such as ESPN’s Field Yates believe New York could grab either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders with the third pick of the 2025 draft. As Hughes alluded, the Giants could wait and take a signal-caller like Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart later in the player-selection process.
