Tag: russell wilson steelers

Russell Wilson makes the Steelers better. But, how much better?

The Steelers hope to be better with Russell Wilson in the mix. It was a low quarterback bar, but Wilson does have what it takes to do that.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were going to have to do something with their quarterback situation this offseason. In their last three seasons, with Ben Roethlisberger and Kenny Pickett as their primary quarterbacks, the Steelers have had winning records, and negative point differentials. That’s a tough “standard” to maintain, and there’s only so long you can expect your defense to hold water while your quarterback is completing 62% of his passes with a 7.1-yard average depth of target, as Pickett did last season.

Now, with the signing of Russell Wilson, Mike Tomlin’s team — and new coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense — at least has a rogue factor that could bring some level of improvement. Wilson famously washed out with the Denver Broncos after two seasons, but he did throw 26 touchdown passes to eight interceptions last season. All of Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks combined managed 13 touchdown passes to nine interceptions, so yes… Russell Wilson is a considerable upgrade.

Take from that what you will.

Wilson will be paid $36 million dollars by the Broncos to not play for them, so he was able to sign a league-minimum deal with the Steelers. That allows the team to focus on other quarterback options in the draft without too much commitment, and there’s no realistic way Wilson and Pickett come into training camp with Pickett beating Wilson for the starter’s role.

If we make that a given, what can Wilson do for the Steelers that no other quarterback has been able to do since Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t on his last legs?

Wilson can win with the deep ball in ways no other Steelers quarterback can — last season, he ranked ninth in the league (tied with Justin Fields of the Chicago Bears) with 23 completions of 20 or more air yards on 60 attempts, for 818 yards, six touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 112.5. That deep-ball passer rating was seventh-best in the league. Last season, Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky combined for 18 deep completions on 55 attempts for 662 yards, four touchdowns, six interceptions, and a passer rating of 64.17. Alpha deep receiver George Pickens, who was clearly frustrated with his offense last season, should find things better with Wilson under center.

Arthur Smith is a coordinator who wants his quarterbacks using a ton of play-action — last season, when Smith was the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, Desmond Ridder uses play-action on 31.9% of his dropbacks, and Ridder was far more efficient with it than without it. Wilson had play-action on just 22.1% of his dropbacks last season, but he completed 64.7% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and just one interception with play-action. There could be a lot of meat on the bone with Smith and Wilson when it comes to explosive plays out of play-action, which Wilson has been able to execute since his days in Seattle.

Really, if you look at what the Steelers need, what Arthur Smith wants his offense to look like, and what Russell Wilson is still capable of doing, the Steelers did excellent work in adding Wilson to their roster. Nobody’s saying that he’s a franchise quarterback anymore — there are complications on and off the field that seem to preclude that idea — but this is a team that needs to push forward with full intent at the most important position in sports, and the Steelers did that on the cheap.

Yes, it was a low bar, but Russell Wilson does raise it.

Russell Wilson plans to sign with Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson’s next chapter in his tumultuous NFL career will be written with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Russell Wilson, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback who was recently released by the Denver Broncos, will sign a team-friendly deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the new league year begins on Wednesday, per multiple reports.

The news seemed to be confirmed by Wilson himself.

Wilson had been traded to the Broncos by the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, and it was a deal that did not work out for Denver. In two seasons with the Broncos, he completed 63.3% of his passes with 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, but he clashed with head coach Sean Payton last season, and was ultimately benched to end the season.

For the Steelers, it’s a move that can only be good. As Wilson will be paid $38 million of his salary by the Broncos in 2024, Wilson can sign for peanuts. And given the Steelers’ quarterback situation over the last few years, Wilson could be an immediate net positive, though he’s been an inconsistent player of late. The end of Ben Roethlisberger’s career made way for 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who hasn’t really distinguished himself.

Last season, the 10-7 Steelers finished 28th in points scored, and sixth in points allowed. They have a dynamic defense, an above-average run game, and an offensive line and receiver corps with potential. They also have a head coach in Mike Tomlin who can get along with just about anybody, and a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, whose play-action/explosive play preferences would seem to fit with Wilson’s attributes.

Perhaps this is what Wilson needs to resuscitate his career, and what the Steelers need to put themselves back over the top.