Despite a tumultuous two-year stint with the Denver Broncos, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought Russell Wilson in to lead their offense for the 2024 NFL season.
The Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowler had his moments, but his performance faded down the stretch for the Steelers. Wilson finished the 2024 regular season as the 17th-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric. He threw for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions, with a 95.6 passer rating and an EPA per dropback of -0.06.
Now 36 years old and a free agent, Wilson is looking for what could potentially be his last payday as an NFL starting quarterback. Let’s look at five teams who could sign Wilson in free agency.
5 Potential Landing Spots for Russell Wilson
New York Giants
The New York Giants unsuccessfully made a run at Matthew Stafford, who decided to re-sign with the Rams. Now, they’ve been linked to Aaron Rodgers. Why not throw another veteran into the mix?
Quarterback play has been a struggle for the Giants for a while now. They finally moved on from Daniel Jones. Neither Drew Lock nor Tommy DeVito inspires any confidence as a starter moving forward. The stakes are high, and New York is probably willing to explore any and every option this offseason.
The Giants own the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They could opt to make a move for Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. If they don’t, it’ll likely be because they prefer a veteran. Russell Wilson could be that guy.
Wilson’s numbers were unspectacular, but he’d be an upgrade for an offense that finished with an F grade in our 2024 Offense+ rankings. New York ranked 30th in yards per game (294.8) and net yards per pass attempt (5.5), 31st in points scored per game (15.3), and last in red zone efficiency (43.2%).
New York Jets
The New York Jets’ quarterback room is another unit desperately needing to improve this offseason. The team decided to part ways with Aaron Rodgers after a dramatic and underwhelming two seasons. That leaves Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, and Adrian Martinez as the only QBs on the roster. With a solid defense in place, addressing the need for a quarterback should be paramount for the front office.
The Jets finished 19th in PFSN’s Offense+, so better than the other New York team. The unit ranked 23rd in points scored per game (19.5), 20th in yards per play (5.2), and 18th in EPA per play (-0.03).
Russell Wilson could be a good fit if New York wants to go the veteran route again. He’d have a solid skill-position group to work with, led by Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Allen Lazard. The unit does take a hit with the loss of Davante Adams, though. Wilson could be a decent bridge quarterback before handing over the reins to a rookie.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are in an interesting spot this offseason. They still have Deshaun Watson under contract after giving him a massive payday three seasons ago.
However, he’s failed to live up to expectations, and his status is up in the air moving forward. The team is also out on Jameis Winston and the prospect of him being the starter in 2025.
Cleveland currently holds the second-overall pick in April’s draft, which puts them in a prime position to land one of the top quarterbacks in the class. Addressing another need with that pick and signing a veteran like Russell Wilson isn’t out of the question either. That would keep Wilson in the AFC North and give him an opportunity to face the Steelers twice.
The Browns’ offense was abysmal last season, finishing last in EPA per play (-0.19), points scored per game (14.3), net yards per pass attempt (5.3), and 3rd down conversions (29.5%). Cleveland’s cap situation isn’t the best, with $12.8 million heading into free agency. Wilson could be an affordable temporary solution.
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans have a big decision to make heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. They own the No. 1 overall pick, but they have needs all across the board. The quarterback position appears to be most pressing, however, as Will Levis has yet to show signs of being a franchise quarterback.
If the front office believes in either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, they’ll get their guy. That doesn’t mean Tennessee can’t still sign Russell Wilson. Wilson could serve as a mentor to a young quarterback, as long as he’s willing to accept such a role. The Titans are also in a good cap situation, with $63.1 million available.
The Titans were bad offensively in 2024, finishing 27th in our rankings. They ranked bottom 10 in EPA per play (-0.12), yards per play (5.0), and passing yards per game (195.1). The offensive line was abysmal, too, which isn’t exactly attractive for a prospective signal-caller. However, Tennessee does have some weapons at its disposal in Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and Tyjae Spears.
Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold revived his career within the Minnesota Vikings’ offense, and his 2024 performance will likely earn him a strong payday in free agency.
There’s plenty to like about the Vikings’ situation. Minnesota finished the regular season 13th in PFSN’s rankings. The unit ranked 6th in passing yards per game (237.8), 7th in net yards per pass attempt (7.4), and 9th in points scored per game (24.2). That’s not to say Russell Wilson would put up the same numbers, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see him have success.
Getting the opportunity to get the ball to a corps of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones would be enticing for any quarterback, but especially one who’s trying to prove he’s still got it.
J.J. McCarthy missed the entire 2024 season, so expect the Vikings to still be in the market for quarterback help. They could also be interested in Aaron Rodgers, but there are question marks for both him and Wilson at this stage of their careers.