Many assumed that Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson agreed to a team-friendly cope with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a result of Pittsburgh primarily promised Wilson he’ll begin over 2022 first-round draft choose Kenny Pickett this fall.
In line with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated, that is not the case.
“My understanding is the workforce was very clear with the 35-year-old nine-time Professional Bowler throughout their assembly Friday,” Breer stated about Wilson selecting the Steelers as the following cease of his profession. “Wilson was going to must earn all the things, together with beating out former first-rounder Kenny Pickett for the beginning job.”
Breer repeated a earlier report that exposed Wilson’s camp wished to strike a cope with a workforce such because the Steelers, New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders that included assured future cash past the 2024 season. Wilson theoretically might’ve waited for such an settlement to materialize however as a substitute determined to compete with Pickett in the course of the summer season.
“That he selected to go to Pittsburgh with out something constructed into the second 12 months, which might’ve been a approach for him to get some further monetary profit past the $39M the Broncos had been going to owe him (minus the $1.21M minimal that Pittsburgh’s going to present them) regardless for 2024, exhibits how a lot he wished to be there,” Breer stated about Wilson.
Former quarterbacks Dan Orlovsky of ESPN and Matt Ryan of CBS Sports activities are amongst NFL analysts who consider Wilson might, on the very least, information the Steelers to a postseason victory enjoying below new Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith is predicted to lean closely on the membership’s speeding assault whereas hoping Wilson will excel doing off-schedule issues as he did throughout his greatest days with the Seattle Seahawks.
Breer indicated people throughout the Steelers hope that Wilson’s presence will in the end assist decide if Pickett could be a long-term reply on the place after the 25-year-old misplaced the beginning job this previous season to harm and, later, to backup Mason Rudolph.
“Both Pickett takes on the problem, and ascends, or Wilson beats him out, giving them their reply on the 2022 first-round choose,” Breer added. “Or, they’ve an skilled starter to information their playoff-quality roster, which supplies them time to reassess in 2025. Neither consequence looks like a foul outcome.”
Jeff Howe of The Athletic wrote that “Wilson has a really lifelike path to a beginning job” with Pittsburgh due to his capability “to throw the deep ball” below Smith. That path includes having to outperform Pickett in coaching camp practices and preseason video games.
