Sources – Russell Wilson, Steelers to satisfy; QB spoke with Giants

Quarterback Russell Wilson is visiting Friday with the Pittsburgh Steelers and spoke with the New York Giants on Thursday because the free agent-to-be seeks his subsequent NFL crew, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

League sources described Wilson’s session with the Giants as an “exploratory assembly.” Wilson is predicted to satisfy with different groups, together with probably the Las Vegas Raiders, sources stated.

Wilson is assembly with groups forward of his launch by the Denver Broncos at the beginning of the league yr on Wednesday. Sources advised Schefter this week that the Broncos had granted Wilson permission to right away start talking and assembly with different groups of their residence cities.

The Steelers have solely 2022 first-round decide Kenny Pickett below contract at quarterback. Mason Rudolph is coming into free company after beginning three video games for Pittsburgh final season.

Steelers basic supervisor Omar Khan expressed “full religion” in Pickett this month on the NFL mix.

“We’re enthusiastic about Kenny and excited concerning the influence that [new OC] Arthur Smith goes to have on the offense and on Kenny,” Khan stated.

Nonetheless, each Khan and coach Mike Tomlin stated they deliberate to herald competitors for Pickett, although Khan did not tip his hand about how the crew deliberate to do this. Khan additionally stated the crew remained fascinated about bringing again Rudolph.

Sometimes conservative of their free company strategy, the Steelers have a current historical past in including free agent quarterbacks to their roster. Earlier than drafting Pickett, the Steelers signed former Chicago Bears first-round decide Mitch Trubisky to a two-year, $14 million deal on the primary day of free company in 2021. Trubisky, although, was unseated as starter by Pickett 4 video games into the season, and regardless of signing an extension final offseason, Trubisky was launched by the crew earlier this yr.

The Giants, in the meantime, have stated they anticipate so as to add a quarterback this offseason, whether or not or not it’s in free company or the draft. Daniel Jones is rehabbing a torn ACL and backup Tyrod Taylor is about to turn into a free agent.

New York might get out of Jones’ four-year, $160 million deal after the 2024 season. The fee can be a digestible $22.2 million lifeless cap hit in 2025.

The Broncos introduced Monday that they’d be releasing Wilson, ending a tumultuous two-season run wherein Denver went 11-19 in Wilson’s begins and didn’t make the playoffs.

Coach Sean Payton benched Wilson with two video games remaining in 2023, a transfer that in impact marked the tip of the quarterback’s profession in Denver. Wilson had handed for 3,070 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023 earlier than his benching.

The Broncos signed Wilson to a five-year, $242.6 million deal after his arrival in a blockbuster commerce with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. They are going to tackle an $85 million hit in lifeless cash over the subsequent two seasons due to the discharge.

The tipping level of the general public divorce was seemingly the dialog between Wilson, his representatives and the Broncos through the crew’s Week 9 bye. The Broncos keep that they needed to discover a “artistic manner” for Wilson to waive, or alter, a $37 million harm assure in his contract.

Wilson, 35, stated he was advised on the time that if he and his representatives did not play monetary ball, he can be pulled because the starter.

He’s now in search of a 3rd NFL crew after spending the primary 10 seasons of his profession with the Seahawks, throughout which he was chosen to 9 Professional Bowls and gained a Tremendous Bowl. A 3rd-round decide of Seattle in 2012, Wilson has thrown for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions.

Info from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Jordan Raanan and Jeff Legwold was used on this report.