One of the focuses the Pittsburgh Steelers had coming into the 2024 NFL offseason was the quarterback position. While they said all of the right things when it comes to 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, rumors and reports swirled that they believed otherwise.
On Sunday evening and early into Monday morning, those reports ended up being correct. The Steelers agreed to a one-year deal with veteran Russell Wilson, bringing in some serious competition for Pickett as the team’s starter this season.
With Mitchell Trubisky being released a few weeks ago and Mason Rudolph hitting free agency, the Steelers were going to need a quarterback at some point this offseason. They wasted no time in bringing in Wilson, who is an upgrade for the team no matter what role he plays.
Last season, Wilson ranked 21st in QBR, a sizable upgrade on Pickett, who was ranked 27th. If Pittsburgh does opt to stick with Pickett, Wilson is a huge upgrade on Trubisky as the main backup and more of a threat than Rudolph was.
NFL News & Rumors: Russell Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
The biggest takeaway from this acquisition for the Steelers is the price tag. Wilson will be signing for the veteran’s minimum, with the Denver Broncos picking up much of the price tag. Even if Wilson doesn’t start in Pittsburgh, that is a massive steal.
Trubisky signed with the Buffalo Bills already this offseason and is being paid $2.6 million annually. Sam Darnold signed for $4.5 last offseason. Around the league, Andy Dalton makes $5 million and Taylor Heinicke banked more than $6 million from the Atlanta Falcons.
A backup being made $1.2 million will provide the Steelers with immense value. If he works his way into the starting lineup or is forced there because of injury, it is an even more valuable contract for the franchise.
There is zero downside to this signing for the Steelers. Wilson, while not the MVP-caliber player he was earlier in his career, is still an upgrade for the team no matter what role he plays. How much they are paying him is just icing on the cake, especially when considering that Baker Mayfield just signed a deal that pays $100 million total.
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