Before NFL free agency even began, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Russell Wilson to an extremely team-friendly contract worth $1.21 million. Some speculated that this suggested Kenny Pickett will get a chance to contend for the starting quarterback position in Pittsburgh. Others regarded the deal as a clear indication that the Steelers intended to give Wilson, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the starting job.
The Steelers’ intentions were made clear on Friday when Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving Wilson as the only other quarterback on the roster. Needless to say, this decision was surprising.
Pickett is still just 25, meaning there is likely room for both to factor into Pittsburgh’s future. Not to mention, he was the 20th overall pick just two drafts ago, is it really time to move on?
It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks—the Steelers already traded Pickett, but again, the move surprised many. However, now we’re learning why Pittsburgh felt compelled to trade their young QB so quickly.
According to Gerry Dulac of KDKA-TV, Pickett didn’t respond positively to Wilson being signed, which, as some may remember was only the latest red flag during his brief time in Pittsburgh. He also reportedly refused to dress as the emergency quarterback during the team’s Week 17 matchup with Seattle when he’d learned he had been relegated to No. 3 QB duties.
Other reports have suggested that Pickett wasn’t even clued in on the Wilson signing and learned about it when everyone else did on social media. The next morning, Mike Tomlin informed his young QB that Wilson would have first dibs on the starting role, and would receive the most reps in practice. It was then when Pickett demanded a trade.
While the Steelers most certainly wanted to keep Wilson and Pickett, they needed to prevent a ‘locker room cancer’ situation. However, the timing of everything is awful, and it may have contributed to Mason Rudolph signing in Tennessee rather than returning to Pittsburgh.
Rumors suggested Steelers ownership, and some players even wanted Rudolph to return, which was thought to be mutual. However, once Wilson was added, Rudolph recognized the writing on the wall and pursued what he considered as his best opportunity elsewhere. Now, the Steelers will need to add another quarterback this offseason, which may happen through the draft, free agency, or both.
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