As the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants continue to wait on a decision from 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson seemingly isn’t waiting around.
Wilson is set to meet with the Cleveland Browns and then the Giants as the musical chairs at quarterback continue to be sorted out in the NFL. The meeting with the Browns is rather surprising, considering Cleveland just traded for Kenny Pickett and holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But the Browns saw Wilson up close and personal during the 2024 season and might be eyeing him as a way to get back into contention after signing Myles Garrett, who had requested a trade, to a lucrative contract extension.
For NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, he wonders if the meeting between the Browns and Wilson could spur action by the Steelers and the Giants.
“The fascinating part about this will be if it goes well with the Browns today and if Cleveland indicates it is willing and wants to move forward with Russell Wilson, then at that point is there pressure on the Steelers and the Giants to potentially say, ‘You know what? We’re not going to continue to wait around for Aaron Rodgers,'” Pelissero said Thursday on Good Morning Football, according to video via NFL Network. “‘We need to try to make a move on Russ, right now if this visit passes without a deal in Cleveland.’ Russ is scheduled to visit with the Giants tomorrow.
“Obviously the Steelers continuing at this point to sit and see what Aaron Rodgers wants to do first.”
The Steelers and Giants are in a holding pattern, giving Rodgers time and space to decide what he wants to do — whether that’s signing with the Steelers, the Giants, heading into retirement, or maybe even following the same career arc as Brett Favre and signing with the Vikings should they show interest.
But as they wait, it’s clear that a guy like Wilson isn’t their top choice. For the Steelers, he might be their fourth option at this point. That can’t be comforting for Wilson, even if he wants to ultimately return to the Steel City. So for now, he’s going to explore his options, much like he did last offseason before choosing the Steelers.
Ultimately, he might return to Pittsburgh if the Rodgers saga doesn’t pan out the way the Steelers hope. But for now the Steelers are playing a very dangerous game at the quarterback position as spots are getting filled, options are coming off the board and the pickings are becoming quite slim at the most important position in sports.
Maybe Russell Wilson visiting the Browns forces the Steelers’ hand just so that they have some stability at quarterback entering the draft.
