Analyst rips Giants over agreeing to deal with QB Russell Wilson

Not long after it was learned that the New York Giants had come to terms on an agreement with journeyman quarterback Jameis Winston, Tuesday reports shared that the Giants would be signing 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers starter Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth up to $21M with $10.5M guaranteed.

ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder is among those who have criticized the Giants for adding Wilson at the reported price. 

"Getting Wilson for one year at $10.5M (because that's what I assume the deal ultimately will be) isn't that wild in a vacuum," Walder wrote. "But who were they fighting to pay that much to Wilson? And much more importantly -- why? The Giants already have a comparable veteran bridge QB on the roster for cheap. Signing Wilson is unnecessary, spends money that could be saved for the future and does little to nothing to raise this team's ceiling."

Specifically, it appeared the Steelers had little interest in a reunion with Wilson after he allegedly fell out of favor with some members of the coaching staff, including head coach Mike Tomlin. Many assume the Cleveland Browns are still hoping to land Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons on a team-friendly deal. There was no indication the Tennessee Titans were considering signing Wilson before Tuesday's developments. 

The version of Wilson who was at his best while with the Seattle Seahawks is now a memory following his disastrous two-year stint with the Denver Broncos and coming off his one campaign with Pittsburgh. The 36-year-old missed the first six weeks of the 2024 season due to a lingering calf injury, but he later helped what was a 4-2 team get to 10-3. Things then fell apart for the one-time Super Bowl champion. 

"[The 2024 Steelers] lost their final five games -- their last four regular-season games plus a wild-card loss to the Ravens -- with Wilson posting a 36 QBR in that span," Walder added. "...His accuracy has dropped, as his plus-4 percent completion percentage over expectation from 2016 through 2020 fell to minus-1 percent over the next four seasons (perhaps partially a result of losing Seattle's receivers). He throws short more often (75 percent of his passes were under 10 air yards last season) and his sack rates have crept up again (at least 9 percent in each of the past three seasons)."

For a piece published Wednesday morning, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted that "the Giants' plan, as I understand it, is simply to play the best player at the position" out of Wilson, Winston, QB3 Tommy DeVito and a rookie who could be selected with the third overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

This indicates both Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are realistic about the fact that Wilson likely is little more than a one-year lottery ticket for a club coming off a 3-14 season.