After being released by the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson fielded immediate interest from the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders. While he ultimately chose Pittsburgh, the team reportedly provided him with little clarity on its quarterback plans for 2024.
When Wilson was signed, it was presumed he would be the starting quarterback over Kenny Pickett. Then in the span of just a few days, Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Steelers acquired Justin Fields. Suddenly, Pittsburgh lad legitimate competition to challenge Wilson for the starting job.
- Russell Wilson salary: $1.21 million in 2024
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While Wilson played fairly well in Sean Payton’s system last season, the belief around the NFL was that his stats were inflated. He is still viewed as a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL, but Fields’ rushing ability and upside as a passer give him a viable shot to win the starting job in training camp.
New York missed out on Wilson after not promising him a shot to become the starter. As for Las Vegas, it quickly signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year deal worth $15 million guaranteed, but it also didn’t guarantee him the starting job. While Wilson came off the board first, it appears he had the same situation in Pittsburgh.
- Russell Wilson stats 2023: 3,070 passing yards, 26-8 TD-INT, 66.4 percent completion rate
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However, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers “didn’t give any” assurances to Wilson that he would be their starting quarterback in 2024. Pittsburgh made it clear the job needed to be earned and that’s a competition the former Super Bowl champion welcomed.
Wilson would seemingly be the favorite to start in Week 1, but it is going to be a back-and-forth competition. Neither Fields nor Wilson are a great fit in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense, given they rarely throw over the middle. Both quarterbacks also have similar flaws – high sack rates and turnovers – which makes this one of the most interesting battles to watch this summer.
For now, it’s assumed that Wilson will likely open the season as the Steelers starting quarterback. However, both he and Fields will likely receive plenty of opportunities to play this fall. The better performer could earn a new contract from Pittsburgh next offseason.
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