And the answer is … Russell Wilson.
The 36-year old will be the old-but-new quarterback for the Giants.
Wilson will likely be a short-term option on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million — $10.5 million guaranteed — as the Giants continue to hope they can select a quarterback up high in next month’s NFL Draft, a rookie to take over whenever he is deemed ready.
Consider Wilson a consolation prize, as the Giants had their sights on Matthew Stafford and then Aaron Rodgers before settling for their No. 3 choice.
Last week, they signed Jameis Winston to a two-year deal for $8 million — backup money.
That is the role he will fill behind Wilson, as the Giants now believe they have a quarterback they can put on the field on Opening Day and thereafter capable of winning games for them.
Thus ends the Rodgers waiting game. The Giants viewed him as the best option among the quarterbacks out there, but there were no indications he was going to make up his mind any time soon — and the Steelers are considered to be a more suitable landing spot for him, anyway.
Wilson was the only remaining quarterback on the market the Giants saw as a legitimate starter.
The one-year deal means the Giants very much are still in play to take a quarterback with the No. 3 pick in the draft.
It’s unlikely they can get Cam Ward — it seems a virtual lock the тιтans will take him at No. 1 — but if the Browns do not take Shedeur Sanders with the second pick, the Giants will definitely consider him.
In that scenario, there would be no pressure to get the rookie on the field right away.
As for Wilson, he could be a Hall of Fame candidate five years after he retires, but he will not start the clock on that countdown just yet.
Wilson and the Giants could have become a thing last year. As a free agent, he came in for a visit, but he was looking for a place where he could start.
The Giants had Daniel Jones in that role and were looking for a backup. Wilson moved on and signed with the Steelers. The Giants added Drew Lock.
The Giants have no illusions that they are getting a player in his prime. Wilson is well past his best days with the Seahawks.
He was a 2012 third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin and put together nine consecutive winning seasons to start his NFL career in Seattle.
He was the first quarterback in league history to start two Super Bowls in his first three NFL seasons.
He won it after the 2013 season and nearly was a repeat champion, but in the 2015 Super Bowl, Wilson was intercepted by Malcolm Butler from the New England 1-yard line with 25 seconds remaining.
Wilson was 104-53-1 in his 10 years with the Seahawks.
He went 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos and was 6-5 in 2024 with the Steelers. He won his first four starts last season after replacing Justin Fields, but the Steelers lost their last four regular-season games.
Wilson and the Steelers then lost in the AFC wild-card playoff round to the Ravens.
A 10-time Pro Bowler, Wilson has 350 career touchdown pᴀsses, 111 interceptions and a 13-year pᴀsser rating of 99.8.
He won the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020, and he and his famous wife, singer and actress Ciara, are involved in several charitable endeavors.
Wilson, though, is not for everyone. He has not always come across as the best locker room presence, he has at times blamed others for his failures, and he often does not come across as genuine.
Get ready to hear “Go Giants!’’ after every Wilson interview.
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton reacted to the news by posting “Giants Country … lets ride’’ on his X account.
Wilson joins a team coming off a three-win season, putting head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen squarely on the H๏τ seat.
They must produce far better results in 2025, and that created real desperation to find a quality quarterback. This regime went with Jones in 2022 and re-signed him to what essentially was a two-year commitment for $82 million.
The Giants received no return on their investment, as Jones went down to a torn ACL in 2023 and was benched after 10 games last season.
Now, the Giants need Wilson to be a capable placeholder.
