When word leaked out on Sunday night that veteran quarterback Russell Wilson plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Denver Broncos formally release him at the beginning of the new league year, the story made headlines.
Moments after Adam Schefter first revealed the information, Wilson sent out a message on X, reiterating the details with a Renegade promotional video that will surely pique the interest of Steelers supporters, regardless of their personal opinions of Wilson.
Wilson plans to sign a team-friendly contract with the Steelers for the veteran minimum, as the Broncos are already responsible for his salary in 2024. As a result, the Steelers will have to pay just over $5 million for quarterbacks this season, even less than what we can predict will be left over after Caleb Williams, the team’s projected top pick, counts against the cap in his rookie campaign. This is because Kenny Pickett is the only other quarterback currently on the roster. Once more, the Khan artist delivers a powerful blow.
It’s hard to sum up a schematic fit in one paragraph, so assessing Wilson’s compatibility with new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith requires some thought, but The Falcons lead the NFL in the percentage of plays with two or more running backs in their personnel packages (23.7%) under head coach Smith’s watch. This meets the expectations for a scheme that stresses running, which fits in nicely with a passing strategy that prioritizes play-action.
They used play action on 33.4% of pass attempts over those three seasons with the Falcons, which is the second-highest percentage in the league, only surpassed by the Miami Dolphins. It should come as no surprise that Wilson, like the majority of quarterbacks, gains efficiency from using play a quick rundown of what we can (probably) anticipate under Smith’s coaching indicates Wilson fits in well.
Wilson might benefit even more from play-action in Pittsburgh than he did in Denver, as there is a legitimate expectation under Arthur Smith that Pittsburgh’s run game will be much more potent than what Wilson experienced there.
Whatever way you cut it, even if Wilson was actually sent in to challenge Kenny Pickett, Pickett is unlikely to be intimidated by Wilson’s presence. After all, if it weren’t for Pickett’s difficulties, he wouldn’t be there and there wouldn’t even be discussion of “competition” for the job. It appears that Pickett’s time is probably coming to an end, regardless of whether he decides to ask for a trade or takes the opportunity to learn behind Wilson during this one-year window. Since they will have to choose whether to pick up Pickett’s fifth-year option in the upcoming offseason, Year 3 was going to be critical in his career.
I’ll give this area a B+ since, in my opinion, two seasons and 25 starts are enough to determine that, regardless of offensive coordinator, Pickett isn’t a quarterback capable of winning a Super Bowl. Does he exhibit flashes? Yes. Thus, many other elite quarterbacks in the NFL have finally been demoted to supporting positions. Have there been enough flashes consistently? No. Therefore, I’m all for Wilson’s signing if it’s enough to start the offense moving in any direction and break the team’s current rut while the Steelers still have a short window of opportunity with T.J. Watt, , Alex Highsmith, Cam Heyward, Joey Porter Jr., and now Patrick Queen on the defensive side at the same time.
Overall, with the addition of OC Arthur Smith, Russell Wilson’s signing was a low-risk move that makes some sense conceptually. Though it has occasionally been more severely hampered by ailments (a knee problem for which he had surgery this offseason and a hamstring injury in the 2022 season), Wilson’s mobility has generally decreased throughout his 30s. Wilson appeared healthier and more willing to work hard in 2023 than he had in previous years, which may be a plus.evidence that those medical problems had truly passed. Wilson has been the more productive quarterback over the last two seasons, throwing 42 touchdowns to the 25 that all Steelers quarterbacks have combined to throw. Combine that with the low financial impact of Wilson’s contract and I call this a win for Pittsburgh and the offense they seem to be trying to establish. In the modern NFL, is that kind of offensive capable of winning a Super Bowl? That is still to be determined.
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