It seems like Russell Wilson is playing the Aaron Rodgers Waiting Game like everyone else. Once Rodgers decides, Wilson becomes next man up and he’ll quickly reach a deal as a presumed 2025 starter. Albert Breer says not so fast. Even if Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, there’s no guarantee Wilson can write his name in pen with the New York Giants.
“I’m still not sure where Russell Wilson’s landing spot is,” Breer wrote in a Tuesday Sports Illustrated column. “Jameis Winston’s presence won’t impact the Giants’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers, I’m told, but could change how they view Wilson as an option. And that might leave Cleveland as his most likely landing spot, and that might only be if the Browns don’t take a quarterback with the second pick or find a reasonable price for Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins.
“If those two are off the table, Wilson’s best option might be to wait and see if an injury somewhere in the spring or summer brings an opportunity.’
Winston signed over the weekend to a backup-level deal but perhaps New York doesn’t believe the gap between Winston and Wilson is wide enough to justify paying potentially $25-30 million per year for Wilson to sign, too. Especially if the Giants pursue Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, giving them a suitable veteran-rookie combination without the need to add Wilson into the fold.
As Breer notes, it leaves the Cleveland Browns as the only other team to publicly express interest, one of two stops Wilson has made during free agency. But tight against the cap and paying Deshaun Watson tons of money, Cleveland might not want to pony up for another vet. Like the Giants, the Browns could set their sights on Sanders and have him be the future.
In the end, Russell Wilson could be without a dance partner. And it might make sense for him to wait things out. Banking on an injury is risky. Quarterbacks are well-protected during the offseason and training camp and injuries are uncommon. Minnesota lost J.J. McCarthy last preseason but had an immediate backup plan in Sam Darnold. A team would have to suffer an injury and be willing to add Wilson later in its developmental process to play catch-up with.
For the Steelers’ sake, this could hurt them in the compensatory formula. Ross McCorkle already noted the possibility of a team like the Browns intentionally waiting to sign Wilson after the draft, preventing the Steelers from being credited for Wilson on the comp sheet. Because Mike Williams’ contract is incentive-based, Pittsburgh is now only slated to net three comp picks instead of the maximum of four. Breer paints a scenario in which teams wouldn’t intentionally avoid signing Wilson. There simply wouldn’t be a market for him.
Like everything else quarterback-related this offseason, the situation is murky. Rodgers remains the domino that must first fall for Wilson to gain clarity over his situation. But even when that happens, there’s no guarantee Wilson quickly finds his next stop.
