When the New York Giants signed Russell Wilson to a one-year, $10.5 million deal last offseason, the plan was for him to be a short-term bridge while a rookie developed on the sideline. That plan flew out the window three games into the season when it became painfully obvious he was no longer a starting-caliber signal-caller.
Jaxson Dart took the reins in Week 4 and never looked back. Wilson went from “Let Russ cook” to “Russ is cooked,” and he’s still looking for a new home a week into free agency. There were rumors the Kansas City Chiefs were poking around on the Mr. Unlimited front... but that door likely slammed shut after they traded for Jets QB Justin Fields.
QB-needy teams like the Vikings and Falcons looked like interesting landing spots for the 10-time Pro Bowler, but they’ve already pivoted to recently released Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, respectively. It’s starting to feel like the tank is on E for the Russ Bus, and Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon seems to agree:
"The 37-year-old was a logical potential short-term replacement and long-term insurance policy for Patrick Mahomes before the Chiefs acquired Justin Fields earlier this week. Now, he's likely waiting for other dominoes to fall."
Russell Wilson’s market might already be drying up in free agency
Waiting for the dominoes to fall feels like a polite way of saying it’s time to get that media personality warmed up. What dominoes are even left at this point? Even if a decent backup opportunity pops up, guys like Kirk Cousins, Zach Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Joe Flacco, and Jimmy Garoppolo are already ahead of him.
If by “other dominoes” Gagnon means the pizza company, then yeah... he might be waiting a while. Personally, I usually go medium with two toppings and some buffalo chicken bites, but I digress.
The last time we saw Wilson under center, he was throwing the ball through the uprights on a fourth-and-goal down 13 with under four minutes left against the Chiefs. He couldn't even give his receivers a chance to make a play on the ball.
But that’s just who he is now. He’s not the extend-the-play, launch-a-moonball-and-let-it-rip guy anymore. And that's kinda what made him the potential Hall of Fame quarterback he used to be. Identity crisis loading.
At this point, it feels like he’s waiting on a Domino’s delivery that’s not showing up (more pizza jokes fresh out the oven for ya). And honestly, that might not be the worst thing in the world for the 37-year-old. Russ on TV, leaning into that wealth of knowledge, could end up working out just fine.