A new report on Russell Wilson’s market in free agency is worrisome for the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2024 season. The Steelers signed Wilson as their quarterback for the 2024 season.
The Steelers made a bold choice to trade away Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. With Pickett in Philadelphia, the Steelers traded the Chicago Bears a conditional sixth-round for Justin Fields. Fields will be Wilson’s backup in the upcoming season.
The New York Giants didn’t think highly of Russell Wilson
Wilson could have easily been a backup on another team. Per Jeff Howe with The Athletic, the New York Giants didn’t value Wilson as highly as the Steelers did this offseason. Giants head coach Brian Daboll thought Wilson would fit in as a backup with New York:
There’s a pattern here, too. The Giants had an exploratory meeting last week with Russell Wilson, and the team didn’t make any promises about playing time, according to league sources. That’s been the Giants’ approach as they’ve built toward the 2024 season with Jones as the expected starter.
Wilson wasn’t initially given the Pittsburgh Steelers QB1 job
Per Albert Breer with Sports Illustrated, the Steelers initially thought Wilson would have to compete for the starting job when they signed him last week. They were planning on giving Wilson first-team reps this spring, and that set off Pickett:
On Saturday night before the legal tampering period kicked off, Tomlin told Pickett that he wasn’t sure if the team would land Wilson, but if it happened, there’d be an open competition for the job. Pickett said he was fine with that. Wilson agreed to terms Sunday. On Monday, Tomlin told Pickett that Wilson would work from pole position to start, and get the first reps at the beginning of OTAs, with Pickett competing from there.
Wilson hadn’t been given any assurance to be the starter (or really much of anything else). But you can see how Pickett’s first two years as a pro affected how he saw what Tomlin was telling him. His guard was up. He felt misled, based on conversations less than 48 hours apart from each other. Which is why he ended up asking for a trade. You can assign blame on that to whoever you want.
Did the Steelers back themselves into a corner at QB?
Following Howe’s report, the Steelers should be concerned that they signed a quarterback the league sees as a backup to be their starter for the 2024 season. They also risk having to give up a 2025 fourth-round pick if Wilson struggles to begin the season and Fields becomes the starter.
The Steelers thought they were adding a veteran quarterback who had the potential upside to earn an extension. But they might have signed a quarterback that will set the Steelers back for years to come in the quarterback market.
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10 Comments
No a 4th pick at worst isn’t bad. Pickett bucks and its the future.
Was this written by AI?
That the league views as a backup? Because the Giants had to stick with their huge investment with Jones?
This article is really wild. Russ wasn’t on the market for a day and was picked up by a team who then dealt it’s 1st round pick QB.
To me that points to at least one team viewing him as a starter.
Regardless of that, the QB they signed played dramatically better than Pickett last season, and they have a minimal investment into Russ both in money and in length of contract.
This article is unreal
Anybody and everybody truly agrees with you!!!
“Years to come”? He’s only signed for this upcoming season.
The Steelers now have 2 options at QB,that are a marked IMPROVEMENT over last season. A VETERAN QB with Playoff and SB Winning experience. And a HUNGRY-to-Win,
EAGER-to-Learn(1-System)RUNNING-QB. IF Option A fails or gets injured,OptionB is a Formidable Force.And,DON’T think that HC Tomlin WON’T employ BOTH Options in games that require a Fresh look.
Let’s put in real people terms, wilson is done….. period, Denver got fleeced,and in a certain way so did the steelers, only it did’nt cost them. MUCH , only thing is wilson himself doesn’t Get it he says all the right things in public, BUT ITS OVER FOR HIM ,pack your stuff and retire, but let’s see what happens DOWN THE ROAD FOR HIM ,STAY TUNE
As a past Seahawks fan Russ has another Super Bowl left. If it hadn’t been for the fallout with Pete Carroll he could have done it in Seattle.
This is probably the most ignorant article I have ever read, and I read a lot. The only ones “fleeced” are those of us that got conned into this clickbait
What the he’ll are you talking about? This article does not make any sense. I believe wilson is going to bring the heat on in Pittsburgh!!!
Article written obviously by a hater, throughout his career Russell Wilson had only one season where he three less than 20 TDs, and that was his first season with the Broncos. Last season he threw 26 TDs, you really wish him to fail so bad that you are making up stuffs at this point. You’ll all be disappointed of how good he will play with the Steelers.