Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is on the trade block after being benched by the New York Giants for rookie Jaxson Dart, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
“Don’t be surprised if another team wants to find out. Wilson is expected to emerge as a trade candidate prior to the deadline on Nov. 4, the target of a QB-needy team in need of a veteran, according to sources around the league,” Rapoport reports.
Speaking with the New York media last week, Wilson vowed that he’s not done playing, despite his benching — but won’t ask for a trade.
“For me, personally, I’m not done,” Wilson said. “I’ve got so much belief in myself and I know what I’m capable of. I believe I was able to show it, especially on the road in Dallas.”
The Giants won their first game of the year on Sunday with Dart under center. New York beat the 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers, 21-18.
Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. Last week, though, he was 18 of 32 for 160 yards and was booed by the home crowd at MetLife Stadium in a dismal 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite that, and the fact that a half-dozen teams are now dealing with significant quarterback injuries, Wilson said he won’t ask to be dealt.
“I’m focused on helping this team win,” he said. “I’m focused on helping Jaxson. . . . I want to be here. I love this organization, I love the process of it all. I love the guys in the locker room. I’m not giving up on us and this season.”
Depending on how Jake Browning does, the Cincinnati Bengals could be a team interested in Wilson with Joe Burrow out for three months due to a turf toe injury.
The Steelers should be rooting for Wilson to be traded — and so should his accountant. His one-year contract with the Giants has just $10.5 million in base salary, but another nearly $10 million in potential incentives. Right now, it doesn’t appear that he’ll reach any of those incentives.
Not only is that a blow for Wilson financially, it will impact the Steelers’ compensatory pick situation for the 2026 NFL Draft. Wilson is currently expected to bring a fifth-round pick back to Pittsburgh after signing elsewhere in free agency, but that could dramatically increase if he reached his contract incentives.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting for this story.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers QB Expected to Be Traded
