When the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson announced their divorce last week, curiosity erupted about where the aging nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback would settle.
The Las Vegas Raiders led a Yahoo Sports survey of quarterback agents and league officials’ forecasts.
However, the one QB agent who outperformed and listed three top guesses did not include the Raiders until the third.
The agent ranked the Atlanta Falcons second.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers, in what now seems prescient, ranked first.
“Obvious need and a playoff team,” the agent texted six days before Wilson and the NFL tweeted apparent confirmations. “This is his best shot to start and have [a] competitive team.”
Wilson seems to agree. Because by Sunday night, roughly 16 hours before the Steelers could legally submit a deal to the league, Wilson tweeted a video.
The marriage is fascinating, with Wilson set to compete with 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett and a potential third quarterback in the building.
It’s also fascinating to see how quickly the Steelers pushed to sign Wilson.
Sure, his veteran minimum pay of $1.2 million is attractive. However, Wilson has received mixed reviews in locker rooms and team offices, and his play has deteriorated sufficiently to persuade the Broncos (particularly head coach Sean Payton) that $85 million in dead salary-cap space is preferable to calling on the services the Broncos will pay for.
So, why agree to a contract so quickly?
It makes sense the Steelers would want to lock up a player they want (especially at Wilson’s bargain-bin price point) in order to plan the rest of their personnel moves and free agency strategy accordingly.
Wilson, though, had more reason to wait. With money as no object, why not guarantee his greatest chance to start? Some executives and agents believed Wilson would wait until after the NFL Draft to locate a team that needed him, especially in 2024. Find a team that didn’t get the quarterback it sought or a team who did but knows the kid needs time, league voices reasoned.
“Look for a team with a young and suspect QB,” an agent said.
“Wait for injury? Like all dust has to settle,” an executive added.
Then came another executive who set up a paradigm.
“In almost all cases, the sooner the better so he can get the system, reps, etc. …” the executive said. “I’d feel decent that it’s done quickly, if starting.
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