Exclusive: Steelers Named Best 2024 Landing Spot for 9-Time Pro Bowl QB
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, Russell Wilson appears to have more options on where he will play next season. One of them is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Denver Broncos sent Wilson down for the final two weeks of the 2023 season, making it look like his time with the team might be over. Additionally, the Steelers have been one of many teams around the league where things haven’t gone as expected for their QB this season. These two could be a good match.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes the Steelers are the best landing spot for the former All-Pro QB. Ballentine believes the Steelers will give Wilson the starting opportunity he needs at this point in his career, while also being a good fit for what Pittsburgh is looking for in a QB in 2024 to spark the offense.
The Steelers QB’s plans for 2024 are not yet known.
It’s clear the Steelers have a quarterback problem heading into the 2023 season, but it’s unclear what they’ll do to fix it. There is an option to get a new QB.
Kirk Cousins becomes a free agent. Baker Mayfield will become a free agent. Wilson can be acquired via trade or release. Justin Fields is also expected to be traded.
With all these options, it makes sense for the team to at least consider an upgrade at QB. But maybe they’ve decided they don’t want to go anywhere near that situation.
During his 2023 press conference, coach Mike Tomlin said he believes the 2024 starters are already on the roster. Steelers reporter Mark Madden recently speculated that the Steelers would not only stick with Kenny Pickett, but not re-sign Mason Rudolph to protect the young QB for a third season.
The organization still needs to hire a new offensive coordinator, and whoever ends up filling that position could play a role in determining the QB of the future. But for now, we’ll just have to guess what the Steelers QB depth chart will look like next season.
How will Russell Wilson fit in Pittsburgh?
Wilson struggled in his two seasons with the Broncos, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be successful in Pittsburgh. During his postseason press conference, Tomlin said he would like to see the team have a more dynamic offense next season than in 2023.
We shouldn’t expect the Steelers to “let Russ cook,” but the former Seahawks QB should be able to keep the offense going. The team’s approach to Wilson shouldn’t be much different than its approach to Pickett.
Pittsburgh can still focus its running game on offense, as Naji Harris and Jaylen Warren have combined for more than 1,800 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. The success of both quarterbacks opens up playing opportunities for Wilson. It was a strategy that worked for Wilson in Seattle. With a stout defense that the Steelers will look to improve this offseason, the team doesn’t need Wilson to beat the Clouds.
They need him to score consistently for the team. He could have done that in Denver, but he and Sean Payton don’t seem like a great fit.
The Broncos ranked 19th in scoring even after Jarrett Stidham dropped his scoring average over the final two games of the year. The Steelers were ranked 28th.
If the Steelers decide to pursue Wilson, they won’t be getting a QB on the same level of conference stars, but they will provide a more stable offense that could spark the team in 2024.
