National Football League

Russell Wilson next team odds: Giants' odds see big shift after meeting with QB

Updated Mar. 8, 2024 2:00 p.m. ET

Once it was announced that the Denver Broncos would not only release quarterback Russell Wilson but even allow him to talk to teams before NFL free agency begins on March 13, the Pittsburgh Steelers were immediately among the teams expected to show some interest.

That's not surprising, as the Pittsburgh Steelers face uncertainty at the position after their offense struggled in 2023 with Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph under center.

But Pittsburgh is not the only team interested in Wilson, and not the first team he met with. That honor went to the New York Giants, who met with Wilson for "an exploratory meeting," according to ESPN.

According to multiple sources, including NFL.com, Wilson was then spotted on Friday at Newark Airport catching a flight to Pittsburgh to meet with the Steelers.

Meeting with the Giants hasn't just created a Friday news buzz, it's also impacted the betting odds.

Let's dive into the updated odds at DraftKings Sportsbook: *

Pittsburgh Steelers, -250 (bet $10 to win $14 total)
Las Vegas Raiders, +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Minnesota Vikings, +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
New York Giants, +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Atlanta Falcons, +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
New England Patriots, +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)

* odds as of 3/8/2024

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The Steelers remain the clear-cut betting favorites to land Wilson at -250. Friday's news did cause the odds to shift slightly from -300 to -250.

The Las Vegas Raiders also slipped slightly from +350 to +450, joined on the board by the Minnesota Vikings.

The Giants were the biggest movers, though, as the team's odds shifted all the way from +2500 to +500. That is a significant move when it comes to the betting board.

According to one NFL Insider, "We know that Pittsburgh is going to go out and get some type of quarterback … whether that's Ryan Tannehill, whether that's Russell Wilson or whether that's Justin Fields."

Why Russell Wilson to the Steelers could work

Colin Cowherd believes Wilson could fit with Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh.

"Russell Wilson is refined, he wins, he's efficient, he's accurate," Cowherd said on The Herd. "He's a defined player. We know what he is. He's not in his prime, but he's not that far past it. The Steelers, frankly on offense, could use his commitment, could use his maturity, could use his experience and could use his accuracy. … He doesn't turn over the ball that much, he can play within a system and do some ad-libbing also. When Russell went to Denver, he was viewed as a savior. That's not what he is here. Pittsburgh's winning with Kenny Pickett. They don't need a savior."

Meanwhile, Jason Mcintyre added his own commentary on Wilson's fit in Pittsburgh.

"I do have to wonder, is [Pittsburgh] a good fit for Russell Wilson? … I don't know culturally that Russ fits there. He had some issues in the locker room in Seattle, and now he's [potentially] going to another defensive-heavy team in Pittsburgh. You know how that worked out with him in Seattle. The 'Legion of Boom' didn't like him. They did not like how Russ got all the accolades."

Denver now has to deal with an $85 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons, by far the highest in NFL history.

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