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 consecutive 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 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 consecutive games to close the season. Defenses caught on to Arthur Smith’s initially effective plan and slowed Wilson’s offense down to a crawl.
