The Pittsburgh Steelers took a flyer on quarterback Russell Wilson after the Denver Broncos cut him in the offseason. It was a smart move, as Denver had to pay most of his salary. The Steelers could see what the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback had in the tank and make a decision next offseason. Wilson missed the first quarter of the season with a calf injury, but since he became the starter, the team has done a lot of winning. They are currently on a three-game losing streak, which has led many to question whether the team should re-sign the veteran quarterback. A recent report revealed the team will try and bring him back next season.
Pittsburgh Steelers Want Russell Wilson Back
On Thursday’s episode of “Get Up” on ESPN, NFL insider Adam Schefter revealed that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been happy with Russell Wilson’s play this year. They have indicated they plan to make a run at re-signing him. “They’d like to go ahead and keep Russell Wilson and re-sign him to keep him in Pittsburgh,” Schefter said. Given the age of Wilson, the Steelers would likely look to lock him down for two to three years on a team-friendly deal. This would give them the flexibility to spend money elsewhere on the roster.
In ten games this season, Russell Wilson has thrown for 2,334 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He has added another two rushing touchdowns. There are definitely criticisms. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of scoring, only averaging 22.7 points per game. While the defense tends to carry the team, there are times when the offense needs to be more explosive. Wilson hasn’t been able to get things going, especially against the elite teams.
Limited Options
Schefter made it clear there is more behind the Pittsburgh Steelers wanting to bring Russell Wilson back than just his play. If they do not bring him back, there are not many better options.
“Who’s gonna be out there that’s an upgrade over Russell Wilson right now? There are two logical first-round quarterbacks in the draft, they’re not gonna get either one of those. The top free-agent quarterbacks are gonna be Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson. Is there another quarterback in the trade market that’s all of a sudden gonna spring-free? Probably not. So, this is where the Steelers are.”
Good quarterbacks aren’t usually readily available. The Steelers could take their chances in the 2025 NFL Draft, but that isn’t a sure thing. (They would know. See the 2022 NFL Draft when the team took quarterback Kenny Pickett). While the recent struggles are concerning, the team is 10-6 and has already clinched a playoff spot. With another full offseason of practice, Wilson could look better in the offense next year.
Final Thoughts
It would not shock me if the Steelers took a quarterback in the draft this April. Even if they don’t plan on starting him immediately, it would be good to start planning for the future. All indications are that Wilson will be back next year, assuming the two sides can come to a deal. However, if things go south in the playoffs or during contract talks, the Steelers could find themselves in an awkward position going into 2025.
