Russell Wilson, Giants meet as Aaron Rodgers option seems increasingly unlikely
NEW YORK — Russell Wilson visited the Giants on Friday in East Rutherford, N.J., as the Aaron Rodgers option continued to fade into murkier view.
No one can say for sure what Rodgers, 41, will choose as he deliberates on his next move between the Giants, Steelers, Vikings and retirement.
But some sources believed as of Thursday night that Rodgers to New York seemed unlikely. Others believed the free-agent visits of Joe Flacco and Wilson were confirmation that the Giants were leaning the same way.
And The Athletic reported Friday that Rodgers first was giving Minnesota time to discuss whether they wanted to make him a Viking.
Everyone who speaks on Rodgers’ future qualifies their information or belief with some version of the phrase “but you never know with him.” And his house in New Jersey makes the Giants the most convenient fit. So any change or shift or about-face is still possible.
On Friday, however, Wilson was the quarterback physically in the Giants’ building, visiting as a free agent for the second straight year, with a chance to be the team’s Week 1 starter in 2025.
And if Wilson doesn’t sign, this Giants quarterback search could take some wild turns in the days ahead: to Jameis Winston, Cooper Rush, back to Flacco and who knows where else.
Not that signing Wilson would guarantee a promising 2025 for the Giants, either.
The 10-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion has a 23-32 record as a starter in his past four seasons: one in Seattle, two in Denver and one in Pittsburgh.
But head coach Brian Daboll raved about him last fall before the Giants lost to Wilson’s Steelers head-to-head. And Wilson could have been New York’s quarterback last season if they hadn’t committed to Daniel Jones for one more year.
“I will say this with Russell: He’s a good football player,” Daboll said last October. “He’s been a good football player for a long time. … Since 2018 [he has been] one of the higher explosive-play quarterbacks. … Won a Super Bowl. Was in another Super Bowl. Got a lot of respect for him as a person, as a player.”
Wilson’s one year in Pittsburgh at least went better than his prior two seasons in Denver after a blockbuster trade away from Seattle.
He replaced Justin Fields in Week 7 after missing the early part of the season with a calf injury. And he went 4-0 in his first four starts and 6-1 in his first seven games as a Steeler, throwing 12 touchdown passes to only three interceptions in that stretch.
On the flip side, Wilson and Pittsburgh then lost five straight games to close the season. Defenses caught on to Arthur Smith’s initially effective plan and slowed Wilson’s offense down to a crawl.
And the Baltimore Ravens ran the Steelers out of the building in the NFL’s wild-card playoff round, 28-14, going up 21-0 and outgaining Pittsburgh 308 yards to 59 by halftime.
This was a concerning reminder of why the Broncos had cut Wilson outright the year prior in the middle of a five-year, $242.6 million contract.
Denver benched Wilson in 2023 before he could suffer an injury that would have triggered a $37 million injury guarantee for 2024, then released him and ate a huge dead cap hit. The Steelers then only had to pay Wilson a $1.2 million base salary to sign him for the season.
Ironically, the Giants then did the same thing with Jones last fall: benching him and eventually granting his release to avoid triggering a $23 million injury guarantee.
Now they’re in the market to possibly sign Wilson to try to help them win games in 2025, while also potentially mentoring a rookie QB if Joe Schoen picks one in April.
As of Friday, though, there were still more questions about the Giants’ quarterback situation than there were answers.
Depth signings continue
The Giants continued their non-quarterback free-agent business on Friday, agreeing to terms with 49ers special teams linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and depth defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter, both on one-year deals.
Flannigan-Fowles, 28, is a special teams player who can serve as a backup linebacker on defense. He played a career-high 20% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps last season in addition to his teams’ duties.
Ledbetter, 30, played more than 40% of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps with three starts last season.
Topics
-
Giants host this veteran QB before meeting with Russell Wilson; team still waiting on Aaron Rodgers decision
New York is exhausting all free agent optionsCBS Sports - 1d -
2025 NFL free agency: Russell Wilson reportedly set to meet with Browns, Giants
Russell Wilson would be a solid option for either the Browns or the Giants, who desperately need a new starting quarterback.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
What's the hold-up with Giants' pursuit of Aaron Rodgers?
The Giants are interested in Aaron Rodgers as a potential option at quarterback.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
Giants could turn to Russell Wilson at QB with Aaron Rodgers possibly headed elsewhere
The Giants are in need of serious quarterback help this offseason.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
One N.F.L. Player Every Team Should Sign in Free Agency
Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson aren’t the only quarterbacks predicted to change teams.The New York Times - 6d -
Aaron Rodgers really wants to be a Viking it seems
Aaron Rodgers seemingly wants to be a Viking, but do they want him? He is waiting to find out at the very least.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Report: New York Giants growing 'frustrated' with QB Aaron Rodgers
The New York Giants were trying to be patient with veteran QB Aaron Rodgers but are now reportedly growing "frustrated" with his indecision.Yahoo Sports - 17h -
Rodgers emerges as Steelers option, sources say
Aaron Rodgers has emerged as a QB option for the Steelers, league sources told ESPN.ESPN - 4d -
Is the Russell Wilson-Browns meeting just a scare tactic? Will Steelers take the bait?
The Steelers have Mason Rudolph back for two years, but is Russell Wilson trying to scare the Steelers into signing him with his visit to the Browns?Yahoo Sports - 21h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Alabama basketball is everything Kentucky wants to be — and will very soon | C.L. Brown
Mark Pope's Kentucky basketball team has been inconsistent this season, but the Wildcats aren't that far from returning to the top of nation's elite.Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Love helps Arizona topple short-handed No. 9 Texas Tech 86-80 in Big 12 tourney semifinals
Caleb Love scored 27 points and Arizona took advantage of injuries that left Texas Tech short-handed for an 86-80 victory over the No. 9 Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
The 3-pointer: Takeaways from No. 5 Alabama's win over No. 15 Kentucky
The Tide’s offense got going early, running effective half-court sets early to open Kentucky’s defense and go on a 3-point barrage in the second half. Alabama’s efficient offense was matched with ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Kentucky basketball can't hang with Alabama in SEC Tournament quarterfinal, awaits NCAA bid
Mark Pope's short-handed Kentucky basketball team was routed by Alabama on Friday in an SEC Tournament quarterfinal in Nashville.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Parker Kelly scores 2 as Avalanche beat Flames 4-2 to move to 7-0-1 in last 8 games
Parker Kelly scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night. Ryan Lindgren and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for Colorado, which has points in eight straight ...Yahoo Sports - 18m
More in Sports
-
Men's Bracketology: UNC is still in, plus more updates from a busy Friday
Despite UNC's loss to Duke, it remains in the bracket for now.ESPN - 8m -
Bulls banners 'Disturbed' during show; need fixes
All six Bulls championship banners were pulled from the rafters after being damaged Saturday night at a concert by Chicago area band Disturbed.ESPN - 8m -
Source: Kupp to join Seahawks on 3-year deal
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has reached agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.ESPN - 8m -
Thomas ties TPC record after 16-shot turnaround
Despite a bogey on 18, Justin Thomas fired a jaw-dropping 62 that tied the TPC Sawgrass record (Tom Hoge, 2023) and gave him a whopping 16-shot improvement over Thursday's 78.ESPN - 8m -
NWSL's BOS Nation to be renamed after backlash
Boston's 2026 NWSL franchise announced Friday that it will officially change its name following a highly-ridiculed launch last fall.ESPN - 8m