The Giants have secured a new quarterback, signing a veteran to a one-year contract worth up to $21 million, including $10.5 million guaranteed. This comes just days after they signed a backup quarterback. The new addition, 36, completed 63.7% of his throws for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 starts for the Steelers last season.
While he wasn’t the Giants’ first choice—Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers were their top targets—the team is hopeful that his experience and leadership, including a Super Bowl XLVIII win, can help them become competitive in 2025.
This signing could also influence the Giants’ approach to the upcoming draft, possibly leading them to focus on players like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter with the No. 3 pick instead of selecting a quarterback. General manager Joe Schoen’s interest in the new quarterback dates back to at least last spring, when he met with him in what ESPN described as an “exploratory meeting.” At that time, Schoen was still optimistic that Daniel Jones, despite his injury, could lead the team.
But Schoen’s confidence in Jones quickly proved misplaced. The Giants struggled under Jones, going 2-8, including a Week 8 loss to the Steelers in Wilson’s season debut. After cutting Jones, the Giants only won one more game. Meanwhile, Wilson’s performance helped the Steelers finish 10-7 and reach the playoffs, proving that he still has what it takes to lead a team.
Schoen now hopes Wilson will lift the Giants to at least respectable levels in 2025, with both his and head coach Brian Daboll’s jobs potentially depending on it. The pressure is mounting after three seasons of declining win totals. The pairing of Wilson and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers could be exciting, but the real question is whether it will satisfy co-owner John Mara, who has expressed frustration with the team’s rebuilding process and expects them to play in “meaningful games” come December. The Giants face one of the toughest schedules in the NFL next season, making Mara’s expectations a challenge to meet.
Unless Wilson can recapture the form he had in the mid-2010s, when he consistently passed for over 4,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns a season, the Giants might find themselves back at the top of the draft next year, entering another free agency cycle with little more than hope on the horizon.
