According to reports, an NFL executive believes the Pittsburgh Steelers could release Russell Wilson this summer.
The Pittsburgh Steelers overhauled its quarterback room this offseason, replacing Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. While the switches are commonly regarded as a quarterback upgrade, it looks that neither quarterback is guaranteed to make the roster.
When Pittsburgh rejects Fields’ $25.664 million option for the 2025 season, it will have no long-term commitment to any quarterback on the roster. Wilson is just owed $1.21 million this season, the veteran minimum, whereas Fields has a $3.233 million cap hit.
The Steelers have one of the cheapest quarterback rooms in the NFL and the expectation is that Fields and Wilson will compete for the starting job in training camp. However, there is reportedly no guarantee that the loser of the quarterback competition remains on the roster for the regular season.
During an appearance on NFL Live, ESPN’s insider Adam Schefter revealed that one NFL executive believes the Steelers might cut Wilson before the regular season if he proves he can’t win the starting job in training camp.
“I even had an executive say if Justin Fields outplays Russell Wilson during training camp, they could see Russell Wilson, them moving on from him before the season. Like there’s a whole range of possibilities. We know that Russell Wilson goes in as the starter, but again, they’re going to let the competition play out and we’ll see where it goes.”
As Schefter wrote, the Steelers’ organization is making it apparent that Wilson is the front-runner for the starting quarterback position in 2024. Pittsburgh signed him first and initially told him he would be the starter, but the coaching staff is also keen on Fields and believes he might develop into their long-term quarterback option.
The difficulty for Wilson is the contract he signed. Because the nine-time Pro Bowl selection wanted the Denver Broncos to be financially accountable for his $38 million salary this season, he decided to accept the minimum from Pittsburgh. However, releasing him would have a minor impact on the Steelers’ salary cap. If he doesn’t perform this summer, the Steelers could move on from him. However, the team’s early confidence in him suggests he’s far more likely to remain on the roster.
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