Few moves in the early stages of NFL free agency are more polarizing than the Pittsburgh Steelers’ decision to sign veteran quarterback Russell WIlson.
Wilson was released by the Denver Broncos following two tumultuous and wildly disappointing seasons in the Mile High City, but the Steelers are betting that a bargain-bin contract will pay off with a renaissance season for the 35-year-old.
After all, the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up Wilson on a $1.2 million deal thanks in part to the Broncos releasing him before his contract extension even begins.
Even after a forgettable, and brief, run in Sean Payton’s offense on the heels of torpedoing Nathaniel Hackett’s season as head coach, Wilson to the Steelers is one of the steals of free agency, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller.
“Getting Wilson for $1.2 million is a steal,” Miller writes. “Even if he’s not the quarterback he was during his prime in Seattle, consider that the Steelers won 10 games and made the playoffs last season with the NFL’s sixth-lowest passing yardage (3,163) and second-fewest passing touchdowns (tied at 13). If Wilson can do better than a 13-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio — which is what the Steelers had in 2023 — you have to feel good about Pittsburgh’s chances.
“This is a chance at redemption for Wilson, a player who looked like a first ballot Hall of Famer two seasons ago. And it’s a chance for Pittsburgh to have above-par quarterback play once again. This is a win-win for both Wilson and the Steelers.”
The outcome of this signing is going to ultimately be how much winning Wilson does in a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform.
Can Pittsburgh Steelers Turn Russell Wilson’s Career Around?
If Wilson is going to regain some of his past glory, the Pittsburgh Steelers cast of weapons is going to play a starring role.
This is a gamble that the Steelers are making, albeit a low-cost one, but the big bet is that Wilson gets big results out of elite wide receiver George Pickens, and his mobility creates opportunities for Najee Harris and the ground game.
Wilson’s numbers were solid in Denver, passing for 3,075 yards with 26 touchdowns to only eight interceptions, yet rarely made an impact on wins and losses and never quite fit into Payton’s system.
With the Pittsburgh Steelers, much of the franchise’s success in 2024 is Wilson having better fortune and being far more effective under Arthur Smith than he was with the Broncos. In a division featuring elite defenses across the board in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Cleveland, that could ultimately prove too tall an order at this stage of Wilson’s career.
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