Russell Wilson Just Lost the Only Landing Spot That Made Sense
If you’ve been following my network of posts — Substack, YouTube, TikTok, etc. — then you might have caught my opinion that the Chiefs should sign Russell Wilson to take pressure off Patrick Mahomes to rush back from the ACL injury he sustained in December.
Patrick Mahomes returning from an ACL injury isn’t something the Chiefs should gamble with. Kansas City needed a veteran quarterback capable of keeping the season afloat without forcing Mahomes back before he’s fully healthy.
Apparently Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach agreed with the first part — just not the second.
Early Monday morning, the Chiefs finalized a trade with the Jets for Justin Fields in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Instead of signing Wilson, Kansas City went younger and traded for a quarterback they believe still has long-term upside.
And just like that, the only landing spot that really made sense for Russell Wilson disappeared.
With Fields going to Kansas City, it’s hard to picture where Wilson lands. The Raiders, Steelers, and Cardinals are the destinations that make the most sense — but none of them look particularly likely.
The Raiders are expected to take Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the upcoming draft. Wilson could theoretically sign with Vegas as a placeholder until Mendoza is ready, but the Raiders aren’t expected to be very good this year. Wilson might not want to spend what could be the final season of his career babysitting a rebuilding roster with little chance to compete.
The Steelers, who Wilson played for during the 2024 season, appear to be waiting on Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers doesn’t return, Pittsburgh could pivot to Kirk Cousins or give their second-year quarterback Will Howard an opportunity instead. That doesn’t leave much room for Wilson to return to Pittsburgh.
That leaves the Cardinals, who could use a veteran quarterback — though they might prefer Cousins themselves.
All of this adds up to Russell Wilson potentially not being on a roster in Week 1 for the first time in his career.
At this point, Wilson’s best move might actually be to wait.
Quarterback injuries happen every season. If Wilson stays available, he could become the emergency option for a playoff contender that suddenly loses its starter. Imagine if Josh Allen or Jalen Hurts were to suffer a season-ending injury in October. If Wilson is still available, going to the Bills or Eagles could become his best — or possibly last — opportunity to play meaningful football.