Could Russell Wilson’s next stop be QB-needy Pittsburgh, now that he’s out of options in Denver?
Pro Bowler, the Pittsburgh Steelers might be a good alternative.
It is evident that Wilson is out of time and alternatives after watching this video of him attempting to convince the Steelers to use his services. But in all honesty, this might be Wilson’s final chance to start in the NFL. Compared to Pittsburgh’s current quarterbacks, he’s probably still a superior option. However, how much of an impact does Russ have on the AFC North title and a deep postseason run?
In order to better understand this, consider that Patrick Mahomes had just finished his collegiate football career the last time the Steelers had won a playoff game. Although Pittsburgh hasn’t lost a season under Mike Tomlin and has been in the AFC playoff mix, they haven’t had any postseason success in seven years.
Wilson thus carries some danger even if he can look like a solution. Since 2020, when he was in Seattle, Russ has not guided a team to the postseason. Wilson’s second year in Denver was undoubtedly better than his first, but even so, he’s obviously changed as a quarterback in the intervening five years.
Drama is already present going into the 2024 campaign when you combine it with all the talk about Tomlin being under investigation. Wilson’s involvement merely makes that worse. Even though he might not be the same Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, the Steelers would hope that he contributes a little bit more to their offense than Mason Rudolph or Kenny Pickett did.
Although it might be true on paper, Wilson needs to demonstrate it on the field. Furthermore, Tomlin’s next decision at quarterback will be the most significant of his career because he seems to be losing respect in Pittsburgh every day. Given that this is Tomlin’s final journey, is Wilson truly the person you want in command of the ship?
Wilson should be encouraged, though, since if this latest endeavor fails, it might be his last time serving as a starting quarterback. Even at 35 years old, Russ hasn’t exactly aged well on the field. Tom Brady could play for ten more years from now, according to some, but not everyone can. Wilson had hints of his previous form last year, but the real challenge lies in repeating it for a further three to five years.