For the third time since Ben Roethlisberger retired, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a quarterback situation to resolve in the offseason.
Pittsburgh would be wise to ink the younger, more athletic Justin Fields to a long-term contract, but a Steelers insider believes it’ll be Russell Wilson.
It’s pure speculation, but when asked his opinion on who the Steelers will sign between the two, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette responded:
The same guy they picked first in free agency and the same guy who was put in as the starter in Week 7.
Signing Wilson beyond 2024 was part of Pittsburgh’s future plans after he was acquired as a free agent, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if it came to light.
But signing Wilson won’t come cheap. Current projections are all over the place from two to three-year deals in the $40 million APY range. The Steelers must navigate cap space challenges in order to make this deal happen. Creative restructuring of existing contracts or letting go of key players could be necessary. Additionally, Wilson’s age—he’ll turn 37 next season—raises questions about how long he can perform at a level worthy of a deal.
After he was signed to a one-year deal in March, Wilson told Steelers reporter Missi Matthews, “I’ve got five to seven more years of ball that I really want to be the best that I can be.”
The front office must weigh the risk of committing long-term to a player entering the twilight of his career.
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