Russell Wilson is scheduled to go to the Giants in individual for a second straight offseason. However he’s flying to Cleveland to talk with the Browns first.
Wilson, 36, who helped the Pittsburgh Steelers return to the playoffs in 2024, is visiting the Browns in individual on Thursday. Then he’s scheduled to fly to the New York space Thursday night time to go to the Giants on Friday, in accordance with ESPN.
Aaron Rodgers continues to be deliberating on the place to signal after being formally launched by the Jets on Wednesday.
The Giants and Steelers are thought of Rodgers’ prime two choices, and each groups are ready to listen to the four-time MVP’s determination. The Vikings additionally lurk as a darkish horse candidate within the sweepstakes for Rodgers, 41.
Wilson’s deliberate visits — and Pittsburgh’s determination to let him hit free company after Justin Fields’ Jets signing — appear to point that each the Steelers and Wilson think about his time within the Metal Metropolis to be up.
Some league sources consider that the Cleveland Browns will land Kirk Cousins if and when Atlanta releases or trades him, however the Falcons to this point have proven no real interest in letting Cousins go.
Wilson to the Giants has at all times felt like probably the most logical slot in Joe Schoen’s seek for a veteran starter and bridge QB to the anticipated incoming rookie.
The ten-time Professional Bowler and former Tremendous Bowl champion visited the Giants in individual final spring at first of free company. However the Giants couldn’t assure him the beginning job with Daniel Jones nonetheless underneath contract, so he signed with the Steelers as an alternative.
There, Wilson began the season on the inactive listing with a calf damage. However then he changed Fields in Week 7 with Pittsburgh’s document at 4-2, and he went 6-5 within the common season earlier than a 28-14 Wild Card loss to Baltimore.
Rodgers’ time with the Jets went terribly.
He tore his left Achilles in his Jets debut throughout their 2023 season opener. Then the crew went 5-12 final season with Rodgers again on the helm, and everybody within the constructing received fired.
Nonetheless, Rodgers’ expertise and late season manufacturing (albeit largely in losses) are engaging to those groups.
Which crew will he select? It relies upon. There are execs and cons to each vacation spot.
Giants: There’s nowhere to go however up for the Giants after a 3-14 season, so the bar for expectations for Rodgers to enhance the crew’s outlook can be low. Malik Nabers is an thrilling broad receiver. Brian Daboll wouldn’t current a menace to Rodgers’ want for management of the offense. And Rodgers already owns a home close by in Cedar Grove, N.J.
Alternatively, Rodgers would threat ending his profession by watching each New York soccer franchises fireplace their whole operations on his watch inside a two-year span. The offensive line isn’t strong sufficient to guard him at this age, and he can be becoming a member of the second-lowest scoring crew within the league.
Steelers: Mike Tomlin coached Ben Roethlisberger to success, so he can deal with Rodgers. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s success with Fields and Wilson final season was spectacular. Plus, Smith was thought of a powerful candidate behind new Jets coach Aaron Glenn within the current search. The Steelers additionally boast a prime 10 protection and purchased broad receiver D.Okay. Metcalf in an enormous commerce with the Seahawks.
On the identical time, Pittsburgh’s run recreation and offensive line want enchancment to help a veteran QB like Rodgers within the pocket. And Rodgers can be renting within the Metal Metropolis, the place he doesn’t personal property.
Vikings: That is the perfect crew of the three by far, together with Kevin O’Connell’s prowess as a play-caller and quarterback whisperer. The issue is that Minnesota already has J.J. McCarthy in place as their future franchise QB. And it will make no sense for Rodgers or the Vikings to signal him simply to play a handful of video games and move off the beginning position midseason to a rookie.
Retirement: Rodgers stated “I think so, yeah” when requested in November if he nonetheless deliberate to play in 2025. And all indications are he nonetheless intends to take action, particularly his outreach to the Giants and Steelers. Rodgers’ unpredictable and distinctive nature, nevertheless, signifies that all the pieces is on the desk. And each minute that passes will increase the uncertainty about simply which route he’ll go.
