Steelers still without a quarterback as Russell Wilson plans visits with Browns, Giants

Still without a quarterback when the first official day of NFL free agency kicked off, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t the only party exploring other options. Their starter for most of the 2024 season is doing the same thing.

Russell Wilson, who started the final 11 games of the regular season and wild-card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, has visits scheduled with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, multiple national outlets reported Wednesday.

Wilson hit the free agent market at 4 p.m. and, according to reports, he will fly to Cleveland on Wednesday night and meet with the Browns on Thursday. Then, he will head to New York and meet with the Giants on Friday.

Wilson remains in play to return to the Steelers, but he apparently is Plan C in their quarterback hierarchy. First option Justin Fields left for a two-year, $40 million contract from the New York Jets. The Steelers also have been negotiating with Aaron Rodgers, who became a free agent when the Jets officially released him Wednesday afternoon.

At 36, Wilson is five years younger than Rodgers, who is seventh on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list. Rodgers and Wilson have each won a Super Bowl, but Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP.

Rodgers went 5-12 last season, his second with the Jets. He completed 63% of his passes while throwing 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

Wilson finished 6-5 as a starter in his first year with the Steelers. He completed 63.7% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The Browns are searching to replace Deshaun Watson, who has an Achilles injury. They have agreed to a trade with Philadelphia for former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. The Giants and potentially the Minnesota Vikings also are in the mix to land Rodgers.

The Steelers didn’t announce any of their free-agent deals or the trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf. That process likely will begin Thursday when players arrive in Pittsburgh and take physicals at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Players previously agreeing to terms with the Steelers include cornerback Darius Slay, linebacker Malik Harrison, and running back Kenneth Gainwell. On Wednesday, the Steelers agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former New York Jets cornerback Brandin Echols, according to Fox Sports.

Terms of Slay’s contract were revealed after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. He will earn $10 million from the Steelers, which is $4 million more than the team paid his predecessor, Donte Jackson.

Echols, 27, spent his first four seasons with the New York Jets. After starting 14 games in his rookie season of 2021, Echols has made just five starts in the past three years. Four of those starts came in 2024 when he had two interceptions and 40 tackles in 16 games.

The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Echols is an option for the slot. He also was a core special teams player during his time with the Jets.

Meantime, two more starters from the 2024 Steelers roster found new homes.

Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi agreed to a one-year, $8.3 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Released two days earlier in a salary-cap move, Ogunjobi’s contract includes $8 million guaranteed and could be worth $10 million, counting incentives.

Wide receiver Van Jefferson followed suit, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans that is worth up to $2.5 million. Jefferson spent one season with the Steelers and wasn’t signed until late March last offseason when he played for the minimum salary.

Those departures mean the Steelers have lost eight starters from last season: Fields, Jackson, Jefferson, Ogunjobi, Najee Harris, Dan Moore Jr., James Daniels and Elandon Roberts.

In other news:

• The Steelers did not tender a contract to outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, making him a free agent. Moon played sparingly on defense in 13 games, but he played 63% of all special teams snaps. His biggest contribution came when he blocked a punt against Las Vegas.

• Rookie guard Mason McCormick was awarded $819,102 in performance-based pay, which was more than his $795,000 base salary. Performance-based pay is awarded based on playing time and the salary level of players.