Russell Wilson
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Russell Wilson showed some love to the Seahawks ahead of NFL free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs won’t know for some time whether quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready to start the coming NFL season, but they could have a veteran fill-in solidly in their sights as free agency begins.
Mahomes has given some optimistic updates about rehab for the knee injury that cut short his 2025 season, but the complicated nature of the ACL and LCL tears could make it difficult to predict with certainty. As the Chiefs prepare for the upcoming season, one NFL analyst believes they will land one of the most seasoned quarterbacks on the open market as an insurance policy for the injury.
Chiefs Predicted to Land Former MVP Candidate
Analyst Greg Auman of Fox Sports laid out predictions for the top 100 NFL free agents this year, suggesting the Chiefs will land the No. 78 player — quarterback Russell Wilson.
Auman noted that Wilson has seen a dip in his performance over recent seasons, but could find a home with the Chiefs on a bargain deal.
“Wilson, 37, has fallen hard over the last three years, going from a $40 million starter in Denver to barely playing on a bad Giants team,” Auman wrote. “He went 0-3 as a New York starter, and after making $10 million this past season, he might draw half that.”
Wilson would ideally find an NFL home where he can be at least a temporary starter, and that could be the case in Kansas City, depending on the timeline for Mahomes to return.
“His best scenario is likely a bridge starter who goes to a team with a young starter so they don’t have to rush him,” Auman wrote. “Go back to 2024, he had 16 touchdowns against five interceptions while going 6-5 for the Steelers, and that’s the hope for a team that brings him in as a stopgap.”
Russell Wilson Ready for More
The 37-year-old Wilson does not appear ready to hang up his cleats, saying in an appearance on the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast that he has a few more years left in him.
“I wanna play a few more years for sure,” Wilson said. “I think for me, I’ve always had the vision of getting to 40, at least. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It’s not, you know, we get hit hard, but … there’s certain rules. I mean, back in the day when I started, bro, it was you just get (clobbered). I mean, so I feel like the game allows you to, you know, live a little longer, I guess.”
Wilson also gave some good news on his health, saying he’s in good shape physically and peak condition mentally.
“I feel healthy. I feel great. But I think more than anything else is, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everybody loves the winning part of it, but it’s process. There’s a journey that you got to be obsessed with. And that part I’m obsessed with.”