As Russell Wilson continues searching for his next NFL home, his upcoming meetings with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants have become a hot topic of discussion. Wilson is set to meet with the Browns on Thursday before traveling to New York for a visit with the Giants on Friday.
On Thursday morning’s episode of Get Up, host Mike Greenberg posed a hypothetical question to panelist Mike Tannenbaum, a former New York Jets general manager:
What would his pitch to Wilson be if he were running the Browns?
Tannenbaum’s Pitch: ‘Cleveland or the Professional Graveyard?’
Tannenbaum didn’t hold back in his response, emphasizing that Wilson should view Cleveland as a prime opportunity to start for a playoff team while taking a swipe at the Giants’ recent history with quarterbacks.
“Hey Russell, come on in. You can start,” Tannenbaum said in his mock pitch to Wilson. “We were a playoff team two years ago. We just retained arguably the best non-quarterback in the NFL. If you walk out of this door, which you have the right to do, we are signing Jameis Winston.”
Then came the most brutal part of his message, where he dismissed the Giants as a franchise incapable of fostering successful quarterbacks.
“And if you go to the New York Giants, it will be the professional grave,” Tannenbaum continued. “Because when was the last time since Eli Manning that a quarterback went to the Giants and had a good story to tell?”
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Are the Giants Really a Quarterback ‘Graveyard’?
Tannenbaum’s comments bordered on a threat, making it sound as if Wilson’s only viable option is Cleveland. But the bigger takeaway? The brutal indictment of the Giants’ quarterback struggles since Eli Manning’s departure.
While Cleveland has had its own infamous quarterback carousel—including the infamous jersey listing 30+ failed QBs—Tannenbaum’s take suggests that New York might be an even worse landing spot for quarterbacks in recent years.
Since Manning retired after the 2019 season, the Giants have cycled through quarterbacks with minimal success:
- Daniel Jones (2019-Present) – Inconsistent and often injured, he’s failed to prove he’s a franchise quarterback despite receiving a massive contract extension.
- Mike Glennon (2021) – A forgettable stopgap starter.
- Jake Fromm (2021) – Briefly started but was never a real factor.
- Tyrod Taylor (2022-2023) – Provided some stability but never posed a long-term solution.
- Tommy DeVito (2023) – Became a viral sensation but was never a serious answer at QB.
The Browns’ Alternative Plan: Jameis Winston or Kenny Pickett?
Tannenbaum also made it clear that if Wilson passed on Cleveland, the Browns would move quickly to sign Jameis Winston, signaling they aren’t waiting around for Wilson to make a decision.
He also noted that with Wilson and Kenny Pickett on the roster, the Browns would have “maximum flexibility in the draft,” allowing them to shore up other positions instead of reaching for a young quarterback.
Wilson’s Decision: A Career Revival or a Risk?
With Wilson’s options dwindling, he faces a pivotal choice—sign with a playoff-caliber Browns team that has pieces in place or roll the dice with a Giants organization still searching for answers at quarterback.
Either way, if Tannenbaum’s assessment is correct, Wilson’s next move could determine whether he revives his career or ends up in NFL obscurity.