Raiders' Pete Carroll discusses Russell Wilson signing with Giants

Multiple NFL reporters previously linked quarterback Russell Wilson with the Las Vegas Raiders before the Raiders acquired veteran Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks and before Wilson signed a team-friendly deal to join the New York Giants.

While speaking with reporters at the NFL owners meetings, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll addressed his former QB1 signing with the Giants in free agency. 

"Russ knows how to fit in," Carroll said about Wilson, as shared by Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "He understands the game. He has great wisdom about what it takes in this league. He can adapt to whatever situation he’s in because he can compete so well, and he’s such a committed competitor. He’ll go in there with a really clear vision of what he hopes to do and add to the program. He’ll be receptive to the new coaching. [Giants head coach Brian Daboll] is going to do a great job with him, I would think."

Wilson played under Carroll with the Seahawks from 2012 to 2021, and they led Seattle to a pair of Super Bowl appearances and one championship up until the signal-caller reportedly tried to get Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider fired in February 2022. Wilson and Carroll reportedly "mended fences" and "rekindled their relationship a little over a year ago," and the Raiders hired Carroll this past winter. 

With that said, Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams noted that Carroll said during his media availability that he "knew when he took the Raiders job he wanted Smith as his quarterback." Meanwhile, Wilson reportedly picked the Giants over the Cleveland Browns in free agency because the Browns "viewed him as a bridge" option at the position but he "still views himself as a full-time starter for multiple years."

The Giants could select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the third pick of the 2025 NFL Draft if Cleveland doesn't grab Sanders at No. 2. Big Blue could also target a project signal-caller outside of the first round to add to a room that already includes Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito. 

Most reporters assume a healthy Wilson will be New York's Week 1 starter, regardless of who else is on the roster when training-camp practices open this summer. 

"I hope for Russ' sake it’s a really competitive opportunity and it’s wide open," Carroll added about where Wilson may end up on the Giants' depth chart. "And they’re going to have to deal with another guy, too. They may get a young kid coming in right there at the top. Russ has no problem with competing. He’ll take it on with real character and vision for himself. It’s a great place to go, going to New York. It’s a great challenge. So, he’ll be up for it."

Wilson defeated Justin Fields in a competition for the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting job last summer before the 36-year-old went down with a lingering calf problem that sidelined him for six weeks of the season. If the Giants don't spend a first-round draft pick on a quarterback in late April, Wilson theoretically should be able to turn his focus to Week 1 of the 2025 campaign.