The Pittsburgh Steelers have been heavy favorites to land multiple big-name quarterbacks this offseason. However, former Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Chad Johnson boldly claimed he believes Russell Wilson will be going to play in Pittsburgh in 2024. He stated that someone told him this news.
Former Baltimore Ravens legend, Steve Smith Sr. joined NFL Total Access to talk about the Steelers' quarterback situation. The host asked Smith if the Steelers' current solution to their quarterback issues is in Denver with Wilson. Smith inquired if he should answer the question as a former Raven or as an NFL Network analyst. The host encouraged him to answer as a Raven.
"So, if I'm the Baltimore Ravens, I'm saying, 'Oh h**l yeah, bring him in, bring him in.' Have you not seen Russell Wilson over the last two years? Have you not seen what's going on in the AFC North?"
According to Smith, the AFC North has a plethora of talented quarterbacks, and he believes that Wilson would not be of much help to the Steelers.
"Now you have Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh? I don't really see Russell Wilson right now, based on his body of work and what he has done in Denver, that you're sitting here thinking, 'Oh my gosh, the Pittsburgh Steelers just got that much better.'"
In his two seasons as the Broncos' starting quarterback, Wilson threw 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions while passing for over 3,000 yards each season. However, the Broncos' record during his tenure was only 11-19. Denver had lofty aspirations when they inked Wilson to a monumental, record-breaking contract. However, those lofty goals failed to materialize, and Wilson's tenure as a Bronco has been nothing short of disappointing.
"Good luck, buttercup, if you're going to get Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh and play in the AFC North. They have three good teams, and if Russell Wilson is your guy, he does not make your team better right now. Sometimes, I can't read, and sometimes, I can't count, but guess what? I can count and read today, and the numbers don't add up."
According to Smith, not only does he not believe that Wilson would be helpful to the Steelers, but he also thinks that the other teams in the AFC North, particularly the Ravens, would be ecstatic to see the Steelers acquire Wilson. Smith believes that if the Steelers did bring in Wilson, their team would be weakened significantly.
Are The Steelers Better Off With Wilson?
It's not fair to put all the blame on Wilson for all the negative things happening in Denver and his lucrative contract. He had actually been doing a decent job with the offense, but was benched by the team after refusing to renegotiate his contract.
Wilson feels betrayed by the Broncos and is determined to prove everyone wrong. He's eager to show that he still has the potential to be a Super Bowl champion quarterback, just like he was with the Seattle Seahawks.
Despite the abundance of quarterback talent in the AFC North, the Steelers are currently grappling with uncertainty regarding their future franchise quarterback. While the Bengals, Ravens, and Browns have secured their quarterbacks, the Steelers find themselves in a state of flux with Kenny Pickett.
Although there appears to be confidence in Pickett's potential to lead the team in 2024, some may question if this is the optimal decision. Perhaps it would be wiser for the Steelers to take a chance on acquiring a proven Super Bowl champion quarterback and fully commit to a win-now mentality.
Although Steelers fans may be scared at the idea of a 35-year-old Wilson joining their team, it could also be their best chance to win with their elite defense and talented roster. The Steelers roster isn’t getting any younger and the time to regain the glory of a Super Bowl is escaping them. This offseason will continue to get more and more interesting as the quarterback situation further develops.
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