Although Russell Wilson may be behind Aaron Rodgers in the free agent QB pecking order, another team is showing interest. The Browns are preparing to meet with the 13-year veteran.
Wilson will travel to Cleveland tonight for a Thursday meeting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds the passer’s second Giants meeting in two years is set for Friday. The Giants have been linked to Wilson for a while, but they join the Steelers in waiting for a Rodgers answer.
When the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot indicated the ex-Steelers first-rounder would not automatically be the veteran that steers the ship while Deshaun Watson is out and before it is known a rookie QB is Cleveland-bound. The Browns are still believed to be looking into vets, and Wilson will qualify. Given teams’ preference of Rodgers over him, Wilson will also not stand to be a particularly pricey option at this stage of his career.
The Browns have been more closely connected to Kirk Cousins than Wilson, but as the 2025 league year begins and a $10MM Cousins payment is due, Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is sticking to his guns on cuffing the QB as a high-priced backup. Teams were split on if that Atlanta strategy will continue, but Cousins is not coming up in trades and is not yet a free agent. Despite Kevin Stefanski’s past with Cousins, the 2012 fourth-round pick’s status may well be leading the Browns to look into a 2012 third-rounder.
Certainly not one to cool down drama, Rodgers is taking his time on a potential Pittsburgh-or-New York decision. That has affected Wilson, who is not believed to be a Titans target. The Vikings are also in the mix for a veteran stopgap, but a Browns fit would be quite interesting given the makeup of the team’s QB room. The Browns are needing to keep costs low because of their 2022 decision to give Watson a fully guaranteed $230MM. That trade came barely a week after the Broncos sent two first-rounders, two seconds and other assets to the Seahawks for Wilson. The Browns are considering carrying both players on the same roster.
Wilson, 36, is certainly more than a failed trade piece. He is a nine-time Pro Bowler who sits third all time in QB rushing yards. Mike Tomlin, against the wishes of some in the Steelers organization, installed Wilson as his starter for 11 games last season. Wilson threw 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions. Wilson finished 23rd in QBR, two spots ahead of Rodgers, and posted a better yards-per-attempt number (7.4) than the older great (6.7) as well. Never in Rodgers’ league as a pure passer, Wilson being five years younger may not matter too much right now for teams, either. But the Browns will consider Wilson ahead of a season when Watson figures to land on the reserve/PUP list.
The Giants met with Wilson before his Broncos release last year. The quick visit pertained to a QB who could push Daniel Jones, but Wilson became intrigued by a clearer shot to start in Pittsburgh. The Giants admitted defeat on Jones midway through last season and now need at least two QBs, as Tommy DeVito is the only one contracted. Despite Rodgers underwhelming as a Jet, the Giants are fairly desperate. If Rodgers chooses the Steelers or retires, the Giants may need to give Wilson strong consideration while they determine a draft path.
I think the Steelers should turn back to Russ as it seems Aaron Rodgers is demanding too much money. Russ had better stats in nearly every category in 2025. Passer rating, QBR, yards per attempt, completion percentage, interception pertage. AR played more games but I wouldn’t bet on that for 2025 given that AR is 5 years older than Russ.
While Russ can be a bit douchey, it’s not like Rodgers doesn’t create unnecessary distractions.
Steelers also had a better OL than the Jets, but I agree. If I’m the Steelers, Wilson is the better move unless Russ didn’t like Pittsburgh for whatever reason or there was behind-the-scenes drama we don’t know about.
Oh cmon man how could you possibly like anything Russ did last year?
He was even worse than he was in Denver.
Misses every read underneath, makes up for it statistically with a long pass downfield, something that he looks for way too often to be effective with
He used to have his legs to bail him out in Seattle
Bud, take a look at his stats vs. Rodgers. Is Rodgers clearly better? No. I’m not saying Wilson is good, but if Rodgers is your only other option, just bring Wilson back.
Rodgers can’t decide? See ya. Don’t need to overpay for aging out QB that brings drama along for the ride. Have that in the WR room already
Please tell me what drama Rodgers brought the locker room of the teams he played for?
I think the fans have created far more drama about Rodgers. Is he an odd duck? Sure. Is he street racing, beating his significant other, shooting a gun off in his pants in a nightclub, or getting arrested?
He makes demands on the GM to sign his guys. He wants his guys hired as coaches/coordinators. He wants private meetings with the owner. He skips OTA’s to go to Eygpt. He’s not a bad guy, but he’s a diva and expects to be treated differently than everyone else. That may get a pass when you are winning MVP’s but not when you are 41 with faltering health and production.
A lot of players miss OTAs. Not sure if he demanded the signing of players. Private meetings? Big deal.
All the years he played in Green Bay he wasn’t “the drama queen” people have made him out to be since leaving the team. Just my opinion.
I guess “star” players get held closer under the magnifying glass.
If I were Rodgers, I do wish he’d retire. Nothing left to prove.
@RockinRobin – First, I was a big Robin Yount fan. 1982 was a magical year and I’ll forever be bummed Harvey’s Wallbangers didn’t win the Series over those Budweiser swilling chumps. Second, I like Aaron. Third, I’m not making any commentary about Aaron’s behavior in Green Bay. Fourth, you cannot argue his tenure in New York wasn’t tumultuous. It was a circus. That is not conducive to a productive locker room. And since he’s not going to put up MVP-like numbers in 2025, why bring in the distractions?
None of those things are locker room drama
Yes they are. If you can’t see how it is disruptive to a locker room I can’t help you.
I was talking to Robin my bad i should’ve made that clear
This will make Pickett really happy. Just a year ago he didn’t want to compete with Russ.
If the Browns sign Wilson, Pickett won’t be competing with Wilson. Pickett was never acquired to even be a bridge quarterback. The Browns have always gone into camp with 3-4 quarterbacks with NFL experience. There’s always injuries in camp and the Browns were able to get a 4th round pick for Josh Dobbs when Dobbs had less success than Pickett
My my my, what a love triangle.
What a nightmare excuse for a so called national football League franchise both these laughing stocks are. Wilson or Rodgers. What a choice. Both are finished, just like these franchises. R.I.P.
Cousins will end up in Cleveland–once he gets released by the Falcon–which will happen before March 17th when they would have to guarantee him another $10 million in 2026 if he’s still on the roster.
Giants keep spending. How much is left for a QB?
For the Giants, it really doesn’t matter at this point. Aaron Rodgers or Wilson? It’s just about the draft. I don’t think either of those guys will be a great mentor so…just sign Winston and spare themselves a little self respect from being the third choice of a washed up quarterback.
Winston might be more entertaining for the Gmen
Winston would be a great back up QB3 for the Bears .That city loves there 1 & 2 QBs
Best shot At starting for a decent club is Cleveland the one year as a backup for the Titans Ward QB1