The 2026 NFL Draft is here, where all the picks that have been traded and earned throughout the year become actual players. That includes compensatory picks, where the league awards teams that lose pricey free agents an extra draft selection in return.
One of those picks was awarded to the Steelers in this year’s draft after quarterback Russell Wilson signed with the Giants during 2025’s free agency period. Wilson went 6-5 as a starter during his lone year in Pittsburgh, leading the team to an eventual
loss in the Wild Card round.
How did the Steelers get a compensatory pick for Russell Wilson?
- New York Giants signed in 2025 free agency: Quarterback Russell Wilson: one-year, $10.5-million deal
- Steelers receive: 2026 sixth-round pick (No. 214)
What did the Steelers do with the compensatory pick from the Russell Wilson contract?
The Steelers never ended up making the pick they received for Russell Wilson. Instead, they flipped it in March to the Indianapolis Colts as part of the Day 3 pick swap that landed Pittsburgh wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
How was Russell Wilson’s performance for the Giants in 2025?
Wilson entered 2025 as the Giants’ starter, but his days in that position were always going to be limited after New York selected Ole Miss signal caller Jaxson Dart in the first round ahead of the season.
In Week 2 of 2025, Wilson showed that his vintage moon ball was still a threat with a 450-yard, three-touchdown, one-interception performance in a high-scoring overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys. However, his late-career limitations were still apparent, with Wilson failing to break 170 passing yards and not throwing any touchdowns in his other two starts for New York.
Wilson was benched for Dart ahead of the Giants’ Week 4 game after an 0-3 start; he was also placed below Jameis Winston on the New York depth chart. However, Wilson revealed after the season he was dealing with a grade two hamstring tear from Week 2 on.
Dart credits Wilson as being a key mentor during his rookie year – while Wilson only passed for 831 yards as a Giant, his one-year deal still yielded some results for New York.
Wilson is currently a free agent after his Giants contract expired in 2026.
