$22M Ousted QB Begs For a Job as Russell Wilson Gets Kicked Out of Steelers Amid Raiders Interest
It’s a wild ride in the NFL free agency circus right now. Two quarterbacks, two very different stories, and plenty of high-stakes drama. On one side, there’s Jameis Winston. A $22M net worth QB who lit up the stat sheets with a 5,109‑yard season (plus a historic 30‑30 year) and then racked up a record 497 passing yards in a Browns game back in ’24. As the NFL landscape shifts faster than a Hail Mary pass at the buzzer, Winston’s out here hustling like he’s chasing his next big break.
Winston’s ambition is clear: if a team’s got an opening, he’s ready to fill it. “I want to be anyone’s QB. I just want to get in the door and show what I can do.”
$22M ousted QB looking for a job finds new home with Pittsburgh Steelers
Jameis Winston’s career contracts read like a rollercoaster. A rookie 4‑year, $23.35M fully guaranteed deal with the Bucs, and a one‑year, $4M gig with the Browns in ’24. And even a two‑year, $28M extension with the Saints in 2022. With numbers like that and a knack for breaking records (remember that Browns game against the Broncos?), Winston is eager to light a fire under a franchise that needs his cannon of an arm.
In a recent unfiltered chat on The Facility show on Feb 6, Winston laid it out. “I will go be anyone’s quarterback, like, to that to that point, man.” He quickly followed up with, “Like, I gotta get in the door. You know what I’m saying?” He wasn’t shy about comparing his own hustle to the seismic shifts in Tampa. When Tom Brady showed up and changed the culture under Bruce Arians. He even added, “Like, we had things in place. Like, Mike Evans, like, he just ain’t started getting a thousand-yard seasons.” His words hit home. Even with mind‑boggling stats, success depends on the right system.
Winston didn’t stop there. With conviction, he stressed, “But what I’m saying is, like, I believe it takes the whole organization to work together in support of the quarterback.” Then he went on, almost philosophically,
“And you know this when you are on a line between being a backup or on a bridge guy. Like, honestly, the great GMs and the head coach. They’re like, man, I’m looking for my guy outside. Yeah, outside—of the building. And sometimes that can be, you know, a lack. But, man, I just focus on the opportunity, man.” It’s like watching a sports drama unfold.
Wrapping up his pitch, Jameis Winston fired off. He’s already ruffled some feathers in candid interviews. And rumor has it that teams like the NY Giants—and even the Jets, who ended 2024 with a 5‑12 record and lackluster offensive numbers (averaging 19.9 pts/game, 218.5 passing yds, and 91.8 rushing yds per contest)—are circling like sharks.
Then, with a final flourish, Winston urged, “Stick to the plan. Let’s establish the running game, man. Put some pieces around us. Let’s win football games. Like, that’s it at the end of the day.” That bold invitation rings out like a classic line from The Godfather—I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse. Hence, leaving teams wondering if Winston could write the next chapter of their franchise.
And with whispers of a Super Bowl Opening Night chat with former Giants RB Saquon Barkley—who said, “I think the New York Giants need a quarterback right now.” Winston’s desire to sign, ‘absolutely,’ is the kind of no‑holds‑barred attitude that makes you sit up and take notice.
While Winston is looking for a new team, the Steelers‘ decision on their quarterback, Russell Wilson, has caught attention.
Not just Jameis Winston: Steelers’ Russ Wilson at a crossroads too
Talking about the QBs looking for new teams, apart from Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, once the NFL’s golden boy with a trophy case full of Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl XLVIII ring, now finds himself at a crossroads. His 2024 season with the Steelers, where he posted 2,482 yards, 16 TDs, and 5 INTs over 11 games—bolstered by a 95.6 passer rating—ended on a sour note. Despite his heartfelt, “Obviously, I hope I’m here,” the Steelers have decided not to extend his contract, leaving him a free agent and stirring up locker room drama that rivals any Hollywood plot twist.
NFL insider Jay Glazer wasn’t shy about the news. He hinted that Wilson’s Pittsburgh days are done and dusted. Moreover, Wilson’s cryptic social post—thanking Jesus for a “new day”—only fanned the flames of speculation. With the Steelers now exploring other QB options like Justin Fields. Or even flirting with trades for Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott, the situation feels like a classic TV cliffhanger.
Enter the Raiders—a franchise desperate for a QB revolution after a dismal 4‑13 season. The Raiders’ offense sputtered, averaging just 223.4 passing yards and 79.8 rushing yards per game. Also, their overall attack managed only 18.2 pts/game (29th in the league). With defensive woes allowing 25.5 points per contest and 333.1 yards on average, the team is in dire need of a spark.
Furthermore, now with Pete Carroll at the helm and Chip Kelly running the offense, the prospect of Wilson—whose career totals include 37,059 passing yards and 292 TDs—joining the mix could be exactly what the Raiders need. In true Jerry Maguire fashion, one might hear, “Show me the money!” Indeed, fans hope Wilson can translate his past glory into wins for Vegas. While Wilson’s legacy with the Seahawks still shines, his recent downturn with the Steelers has left many teams weighing the risk versus the reward. Yet, the possibility of reuniting with Pete Carroll has sparked excitement among NFL insiders and fans alike.
Whether it’s a final twist in the Steelers saga or the dawn of a Raiders revival, Wilson’s next move promises to shake up the league. Hence, capturing the bittersweet end of one chapter and the thrilling promise of the next in this high‑stakes gridiron saga.
Looks like it is a wait-and-watch situation for both Winston and Russ Wilson.