A new study on hmmm Russell Wilson’s free agency market raises concerns for the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of the 2024 season. The Steelers have hired Wilson as their quarterback for the 2024 season.
The Steelers made a big move by trading Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. With Pickett in Philadelphia, the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick. Fields will be Wilson’s backup for the 2018 season.
The New York Giants did not rate Russell Wilson highly.
Wilson could easily have been a backup for another squad. According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the New York Giants did not value Wilson as highly as the Steelers did this offseason. Giants head coach Brian Daboll believed Wilson might fit well as a backup in New York:
There’s a pattern here, too. The Giants had an exploratory meeting last week with Russell Wilson, and the team didn’t make any promises about playing time, according to league sources. That’s been the Giants’ approach as they’ve built toward the 2024 season with Jones as the expected starter.
Wilson wasn’t initially given the Pittsburgh Steelers QB1 job
Per Albert Breer with Sports Illustrated, the Steelers initially thought Wilson would have to compete for the starting job when they signed him last week. They were planning on giving Wilson first-team reps this spring, and that set off Pickett:
On Saturday night before the legal tampering period kicked off, Tomlin told Pickett that he wasn’t sure if the team would land Wilson, but if it happened, there’d be an open competition for the job. Pickett said he was fine with that. Wilson agreed to terms Sunday. On Monday, Tomlin told Pickett that Wilson would work from pole position to start, and get the first reps at the beginning of OTAs, with Pickett competing from there.
Wilson had not been guaranteed a starting spot (or anything else). But you can see how Pickett’s first two years as a pro influenced how he perceived what Tomlin was telling him. His guard was up. He felt mislead by conversations that occurred less than 48 hours apart. This is why he ended up requesting a trade. You can blame anybody you want.
Did the Steelers back themselves into a corner at quarterback?
The Steelers thought they were adding a veteran quarterback who had the potential upside to earn an extension. But they might have signed a quarterback that will set the Steelers back for years to come in the quarterback market.
Be the first to comment