Russell Wilson visited the Giants on Friday in East Rutherford, N.J., because the Aaron Rodgers choice continued to fade into murkier view.
Nobody can say for positive what Rodgers, 41, will select as he deliberates on his subsequent transfer between the Giants, Steelers, Vikings and retirement.
However some sources believed as of Thursday evening that Rodgers to New York appeared unlikely. Others believed the free agent visits of Joe Flacco and Wilson have been affirmation that the Giants have been leaning the identical means.
And The Athletic reported Friday that Rodgers first was giving Minnesota time to debate whether or not they wished to make him a Viking.
Everybody who speaks on Rodgers’ future qualifies their info or perception with some model of the phrase “but you never know with him.” And his home in New Jersey makes the Giants essentially the most handy match. So any change or shift or about-face remains to be attainable.
On Friday, nevertheless, Wilson was the quarterback bodily within the Giants’ constructing, visiting as a free agent for the second straight 12 months, with an opportunity to be the group’s Week 1 starter in 2025.
And if Wilson doesn’t signal, this Giants quarterback search might take some wild turns within the days forward: to Jameis Winston, Cooper Rush, again to Flacco and who is aware of the place else.
Not that signing Wilson would assure a promising 2025 for the Giants, both.
The ten-time Professional Bowler and Tremendous Bowl champion has a 23-32 report as a starter in his previous 4 seasons: one in Seattle, two in Denver and one in Pittsburgh.
However head coach Brian Daboll raved about him final fall earlier than the Giants misplaced to Wilson’s Steelers head-to-head. And Wilson might have been New York’s quarterback final season in the event that they hadn’t dedicated to Daniel Jones for yet one more 12 months.
“I will say this with Russell: He’s a good football player,” Daboll stated final 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 12 months in Pittsburgh at the least went higher than his prior two seasons in Denver after a blockbuster commerce away from Seattle.
He changed Justin Fields in Week 7 after lacking the early a part of the season with a calf damage. And he went 4-0 in his first 4 begins and 6-1 in his first seven video games as a Steeler, throwing 12 landing passes to solely three interceptions in that stretch.
On the flip facet, Wilson and Pittsburgh then misplaced 5 straight video games to shut the season. Defenses caught on to Arthur Smith’s initially efficient plan and slowed Wilson’s offense right down to a crawl.
And the Baltimore Ravens ran the Steelers out of the constructing within the NFL’s Wild Card playoff spherical, 28-14, going up 21-0 and outgaining Pittsburgh 308 yards to 59 by halftime.
This was a regarding reminder of why the Broncos had reduce Wilson outright the 12 months prior in the midst of a five-year, $242.6 million contract.
Denver benched Wilson in 2023 earlier than he might endure an damage that will have triggered a $37 million damage assure for 2024, then launched him and ate an enormous useless cap hit. The Steelers then solely needed to pay Wilson a $1.2 million base wage to signal him for the season.
Sarcastically, the Giants then did the identical factor with Jones final fall: benching him and finally granting his launch to keep away from triggering a $23 million damage assure.
Now they’re available in the market to probably signal Wilson to attempt to assist them win video games in 2025, whereas additionally doubtlessly mentoring a rookie QB if Joe Schoen picks one in April.
As of Friday, although, there have been nonetheless extra questions concerning the Giants’ quarterback scenario than there have been solutions.
DEPTH SIGNINGS CONTINUE
The Giants continued their non-quarterback free agent enterprise on Friday, agreeing to phrases with 49ers particular groups linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and depth defensive deal with Jeremiah Ledbetter, each on one-year offers.
Flannigan-Fowles, 28, is a particular groups participant who can function a backup linebacker on protection. He performed a career-high 20 % of San Francisco’s defensive snaps final season along with his groups’ duties.
Ledbetter, 30, performed greater than 40 % of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps with three begins final season.
