CLEVELAND, Ohio — Russell Wilson’s meeting with the Browns on Thursday may have gone well, but not well enough for them to prevent him from still visiting the Giants on Friday.
Wilson, whom the Browns would like to sign as their veteran “bridge” quarterback, flew to Cleveland on Wednesday night and arrived at the facility on Thursday morning. The meeting lasted into the 2 o’clock hour, at which time, Wilson left the building and was driven presumably to the airport for his trip to New York.
But the Browns can offer Wilson, 36, something that the Giants might not be able to right now: a chance to start this season. That’s because the Giants are also in the mix for Aaron Rogers, who’s apparently deciding between them and the Steelers.
A 10-time Pro Bowler, Wilson also likely has a chance to return to Pittsburgh if they don’t land Rodgers, who’s taking time to decide his course of action.
While at the Browns facility, Wilson undoubtedly had a chance to talk to Myles Garrett, who signed a four-year extension on Sunday worth $160 million, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL at $40 million a year.
Garrett’s agent, Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports, told cleveland.com on Sunday that Garrett wanted to sign his extension in time for the start of the negotiating period on Monday so he could help recruit free agents.
If he helps land Wilson and the Browns get back to winning this season because of him, Garrett will have made up for his trade demand and hard-line stance that he wanted out to go elsewhere to win a Super Bowl.
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s been rehabbing his re-repaired ruptured Achilles at the Browns facility in Berea all offseason, also likely ran into Wilson inside the facility. He may have even had a chance to talk to fellow former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, who conducted his introductory video conference on Thursday.
Last March, Pickett, acquired by the Browns this week in a trade with the Eagles, asked the Steelers to trade him after he learned on social media that they were signing Wilson. Pickett, under the impression that he’d be the Steelers QB1 again in 2024, was told by coach Mike Tomlin that Wilson had the inside track to start instead.
Now, Pickett, who said Thursday he was told by the Browns he was brought in to compete for the starting job here, might have to contend Wilson all over again. But on Thursday, he said he’s up for the challenge.
“It’s fine with me,” Pickett said. “As long as I have a chance to compete, that’s all you can ask for. So having that opportunity is awesome as a player. So I’m looking forward to working with whoever comes in the building.
Wilson will also have to gain a comfort level with knowing the Browns might draft a quarterback at No. 2 overall pick — possibly Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders — and that the rookie might start at some point this season.
If he lands here, Wilson can stave off the rookie by playing well. Last season, he went 6-5 with the Steelers, winning six of his first seven starts before the offense fell off a cliff. The Steelers lost their final four regular season games and the wild card playoff game to the Ravens.
If Wilson was able to explain to the Browns sufficiently what happened in those final five games, they’ll be more likely to want to sign him.
They always intended to acquire a veteran “bridge” quarterback, a younger veteran and then draft a rookie.
It remains to be seen if Wilson will be that bridge, or if they’ll be back in the hunt.
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