The New York Giants are signing former Seahawks, Broncos, and Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year contract worth $10.5 million, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo. The deal could be worth up to $21 million with incentives.
In 11 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson was named an AFC Pro Bowl replacement after he threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading the Steelers to the playoffs. He also ran for 155 yards and two TDs during the 2024-25 season.
Reports: We have agreed to terms with QB Russell Wilson, pending a physical
Details: https://t.co/KP8VHCFIoQ pic.twitter.com/857xhApk9x
— New York Giants (@Giants) March 25, 2025
This comes just four days after the Giants also signed former number-one overall pick and Browns quarterback Jameis Winston. According to Tom Pelissero, Winston’s deal is for two years and worth $8 million.
Prior to these two signings, Tommy DeVito was the only quarterback on New York’s roster. Now, they add a ten-time Pro Bowler in Russell Wilson and a former passing yards league leader in Jameis Winston.
📰 Table Of Contents
What this means for the Giants
This indicates the New York Giants will not draft a quarterback with the third-overall pick in April. Maybe if they had only signed Jameis Winston, New York could’ve taken a gamble and hoped that Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward would be available at the third spot. Since Winston is on a two-year bridge contract, it would’ve made sense for them to draft a quarterback early because that prospect would have the opportunity to ride the bench and learn from a veteran like Winston before becoming the eventual starter.
By adding Russell Wilson, I think the Giants have shown us what their expectations are for this season. Signing Russell Wilson tells me that Giants management believes they can compete for a playoff spot right now with the way the roster is constructed. They clearly felt that they were a quarterback away from being competitive and that Russell Wilson can be that QB that makes them a contender. Whether this is a desperate move by GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll to save their jobs or an actual plan to be competitive has yet to be determined. But for now, I think the Giants go from a two- to four-win squad to a possible Wild Card team.
Been here before… can’t wait to do it again. #MetLife @Giants pic.twitter.com/6BevBmOLKW
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 26, 2025
I also think this reveals the Giants’ draft strategy. With the third overall pick, there was an outside chance that they could’ve landed a quarterback, but signing Russell Wilson AND Jameis Winston tells me the G-Men weren’t all that thrilled with the QBs in this draft class. Now that they have locked down their starting quarterback, I think the Giants will go in a different drafting direction than I expected.
I see one of three things happening for the Giants during the 2025 NFL Draft. One possibility is that they stay put and draft the best available player, which will likely be either Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Penn State’s Abdul Carter. Another option is that the Giants add an offensive lineman like Armand Membou or a cornerback like Will Johnson. The third (and arguably smartest) outcome would be the Giants trading back a few spots to a quarterback-needy team, acquiring more draft capital, and picking the best available player at their new spot (hopefully an offensive lineman).
I don’t think signing Russell Wilson is a smart long-term decision. The G-Men are once again kicking the can down the road at the quarterback position by not finding their QB of the future. Wilson is basically a one-year rental. I think this move is an attempt by Schoen and Daboll to buy themselves one more season as the leaders of the Giants. While it might make them competitive next year, they’ll still be dealing with the same quarterback questions next off-season. At that point, they might not even have a top-three draft pick. But I guess that’s a problem that New York will have to deal with later.
What this means for the rest of the NFL
Outside of the Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers are most impacted by this move. After all, Russell Wilson was their starting quarterback last season. Now that he’s gone, there are only two QBs currently on the Steelers’ roster: Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. Those are TERRIBLE options. Neither one of those guys is good enough to be a team’s starter across a 17-game season. Therefore, the Steelers only have one choice at the quarterback position: sign Aaron Rodgers.
I know that he comes with a ton of baggage and unwanted media attention, which conflicts with the culture that Pittsburgh has spent decades establishing, but it’s their only current option, in my opinion. Steelers fans might claim they don’t want Rodgers, but when the team trots out Mason Rudolph in Week One, and he turns the ball over two to three times, fans will be singing a different tune. And, if we’re being honest, it’s not like Aaron Rodgers is a bad option. The guy was eighth in passing yards and tied with MVP Josh Allen in terms of passing TDs (28). Pittsburgh will inevitably sign Aaron Rodgers now that Russell Wilson is off the board. I would be shocked if they didn’t.
Before Russell Wilson joined the Giants, Pittsburgh had leverage in the Aaron Rodgers negotiations because they could’ve just re-signed Russ if contract talks fell apart. Now, the ball is in Rodgers’ court, and he can hold the quarterback-needy Steelers hostage for more money, more years on his contract, more off-the-field freedom, etc. The Steelers took a gamble and lost. Now, they’ll have to pay the piper by giving Aaron Rodgers everything he wants IF they end up going that route.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision pic.twitter.com/SBjfbYjbWZ
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 26, 2025
I also believe that the Russell Wilson signing means that the Giants will be open to shopping the number-three overall pick, depending on who goes first and second. If Travis Hunter is there at the third spot, then the Giants will almost certainly stay put and pick him. However, if Hunter is off the board, I think the Giants will be able to trade back with a team that needs a quarterback or edge rusher, based on who goes first and second.
If one of the two good quarterbacks in this draft class is available, I could see the Giants making a deal with the Raiders, Saints, or Jets. If Abdul Carter is still on the board, then New York could put together a trade with Carolina, Jacksonville, or Chicago. Regardless of how the board shakes out, I am sure the Giants will receive a lot of draft-day calls regarding the availability of the third-overall pick.
