The New York Giants were dealt a blow to their quarterback search when Matthew Stafford decided to stay with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Giants were willing to offer Stafford a two-year deal worth up to $100 million guaranteed and engaged in contract talks with the Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s camp. However, Stafford passed and agreed to restructure his deal with the Rams.
With Stafford off the table, Giants general manager Joe Schoen is reportedly turning his attention to future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off two tumultuous seasons with the New York Jets. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey told Rodgers that they would be going in a different direction in 2025.
Rodgers, who has caused his share of distractions over the years, still threw for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns, with a 90.5 passer rating during a 5-12 Jets season in 2024. He would also only be used as a stopgap quarterback.
However, one NFL insider believes the Giants won’t go the Rodgers route, and instead sign a 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
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NFL insider: New York Giants will land Russell Wilson
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicts the Giants will end up signing Russell Wilson, who started 12 total games — including the playoffs — for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.
Wilson missed the first six games of last year due to a calf injury, but head coach Mike Tomlin inserted him back into the starting lineup in Week 7 after he was healthy enough to return.
“Wilson, who had 2,482 passing yards in 11 starts, can still play at a reasonable level and would provide a higher floor that the Giants can build upon with improvements at other positions. Coach Brian Daboll is a smart offensive mind who should be able to scheme around the limitations of Wilson’s aging skill set,” Schatz wrote.
On top of the 2,482 passing yards, Wilson threw 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions, completing 63.7% of his passes. Wilson won six of his first seven games, but the Steelers collapsed late in the season, losing their last five games, including the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Ravens.
Like Rodgers, Wilson would just be a stopgap quarterback, but without the baggage. The Giants hold the third-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could look to Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders as their QB of the future.