Big Blue View
Could Wilson be the short-term QB answer for the Giants?
The New York Giants expressed interest in free agent quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason. Wilson met with the Giants before traveling to Pittsburgh and ultimately signing with the Steelers. For one reason or another, New York allowed their 2024 life-raft to walk out of the building and sign a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Steelers. It was understood that he’d be playing at a significant discount due to the stipulations in his contract with the Denver Broncos.
If Wilson was willing to come to New York to either back up or compete with Daniel Jones, it was a massive mistake by Joe Schoen not to make that happen. Wilson revitalized a successful 4-2 team and helped them go 10-7. Pittsburgh’s offense took a large step forward in the first few games Wilson started but took a step back toward the end of the season.
Including the playoff loss against Baltimore, Wilson finished with 2,752 passing yards (7.5 yards per attempt) with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He had a beautiful Big Time Throw Rate of 6.3%, which ranked fourth in the NFL, and a turnover-worthy play rate of just 1.6%, which was third best in the NFL.
After the disastrous 2022 season in Denver, Wilson stabilized under Sean Payton last season but was shipped out of town. He found his footing in Pittsburgh and is now available again. He’s no spring chicken at 36 years old, nor is he the long-term answer, but Wilson can still play competent football and keep an offense on track. Let’s go through some tape to prove that fact.
One of Russell Wilson’s best attributes is his outside-the-numbers moonballs in one-on-one situations. Wilson delivers these passes with impeccable touch and placement. Here, he delivers a beauty to Van Jefferson (11) for six on third-and-10:
Wilson watches the two boundary deep fourth defenders in Cover-4, with Pittsburgh aligned in a 3x1 set. From under center, Wilson collected the necessary information to see the safeties on his drop back; Kyle Hamilton (14) worked to the numbers and then flashed his eyes to the backside crossing route from the three-receiver side. Van Jefferson (11) ate the leverage of the outside cornerback and created space for himself to the inside. Wilson noticed the coverage shift as he hit his back foot and threw the football up to an open Jefferson with perfect ball placement and trajectory to prevent the defensive backs from making any play on the football. Wilson was also able to make these well-timed passes from the far hash:
Wilson is one of the best in the game at quickly processing information and capitalizing on said information during the initial parts of a play. On second-and-9, the Ravens drop into Cover-2, and Wilson processed it immediately. Watch how Wilson looks at the field side; he stares initially at the No. 2 receiver and the deep half safety to the field just kept...
