Russell Wilson joins the Giants in 2025, but is this aging QB the right call? Inside the team’s riskiest offseason decision—and what it means for their future.
Few teams have shaken things up more this offseason than the New York Giants. After a flurry of moves in both free agency and the draft, the franchise is aiming to turn the page. But amid all the changes, no decision carries more risk or potential reward than signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson.
Following the release of Daniel Jones, the Giants began their search for a new signal-caller. After a brief stint with Drew Lock to close out the 2024 season, the team showed no interest in bringing him back. Instead, GM Joe Schoen added Jameis Winston early in free agency, only to make a bolder move weeks later: inking Wilson to a short-term deal.
Wilson’s arrival gives the Giants a veteran presence, but it comes with heavy baggage. At 36 years old, Wilson is now on his third team in as many years. He flamed out in Denver, showed flashes of revival in Pittsburgh, and now finds himself in the NFL’s toughest media market, with one last chance to prove he can still lead a team.
The Giants’ quarterback room was a blank slate heading into the offseason. With limited options available, signing a proven vet made sense, but choosing Wilson is still a major gamble.
Once considered among the NFL’s elite, Wilson’s last few seasons have been rocky. Since 2021, he’s missed 13 games due to injuries, and his production has dropped sharply. He threw a career-low number of touchdowns in 2022 and has posted his lowest passing yard totals in each of the last two years.
Even so, Wilson’s 2024 campaign with the Steelers was his best post-Seattle showing. That earned him a shot with the Giants. But he now faces greater scrutiny than ever. Denver was tough, but New York is relentless. Every subpar outing will bring the heat.
And there’s another challenge: the offensive line. Wilson has struggled with sacks throughout his career. Now, he’ll play behind a unit that surrendered 48 sacks last season.
The Giants did hedge their bet. Just a month after signing Wilson, they traded up to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart late in the first round. While Wilson is expected to start Week 1, Dart is already turning heads in OTAs. Any misstep by Wilson could open the door for the rookie to take over sooner than expected.
This sets up a tightrope act for both Wilson and head coach Brian Daboll. If Wilson rebounds under Daboll’s tutelage, he might extend his career. If not, the Giants could pivot to Dart midseason, hoping to spark a new era.
Wilson isn’t the only risky investment New York made this spring. The team handed out big-money deals to safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo, while also signing defensive lineman Chauncey Golston, quarterback Jameis Winston, defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris, and offensive lineman James Hudson III.
But perhaps the most questionable move outside the quarterback situation was the three-year, \$36 million extension given to wide receiver Darius Slayton.
Slayton has long been a boom-or-bust player—flashing big-play potential one week and disappearing the next. While he’s topped 700 receiving yards in four of his six seasons, he’s never been a consistent full-time starter and has just seven missed games to his name. Pairing him with rookie Malik Nabers makes sense on paper, but the contract raises eyebrows given his inconsistent role.
After essentially punting on the 2024 season, the Giants face mounting pressure to win now. Schoen and Daboll have reshaped the roster in dramatic fashion. If things go right, Wilson revives his career and Dart develops quietly behind the scenes. If they go wrong, the Wilson experiment could cost the regime its future.
One thing’s for sure: the 2025 season will define this era of Giants football—and it all starts with the biggest risk of all.
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