[ad_1]
Free agency hasn’t even started yet and Russell Wilson You have already found your new team. The former Denver Broncos quarterback announced Sunday night that he will be signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to ESPN.com, Wilson agreed to a one-year contract that will pay him around the league minimum of $1.21 million. Wilson was willing to sign a cheap contract because he will make $39 million during the 2024 season no matter what. The Broncos will pay him almost $38 million, while the Steelers will keep the rest.
Although Wilson is not technically a free agent yet, he was allowed to reach a deal with the Steelers because the Broncos gave him permission to talk to other teams. after informing him on March 4 that he was going to be released when the new league year began on March 13. Wilson can reach a deal with the Steelers now, but he won’t be able to officially sign it until Wednesday at 4 pm ET.
Wilson visited both the Giants and the Steelers in recent days, but he clearly likes what he saw in Pittsburgh better.
The fact that the Steelers are bringing in an established veteran to compete Kenny Pickett It’s not a big surprise. mike tomlin made it very clear At the end of the season, Pickett would face some competition for his position.
“There’s always competition in this. We don’t anoint anyone,” Tomlin said. “I appreciate his efforts and where he is at, and I’m excited to continue working with him, but he will certainly face challenges from a competitive perspective in the future.”
According to projections from SportsLine data expert Stephen Oh, the Steelers’ win total will improve from 8 to 8.6 if Wilson beats out Pickett for the starting job and their playoff hopes will improve from 30.3% to 42%. .
In it NFL Combine, said general manager Omar Khan has “full faith” in Pickettbut he also said the team would explore all options when it comes to finding a quarterback.
“There are different avenues for us: the draft, free agency, the trade market. I would say each of those avenues is an option for us,” Khan said, via The Athletic. “We’re looking at everything. I have an obligation to this organization, to the players, to the front office, to every member of Steelers Nation, to consider every option, every way to try to make this team better. And we.” let’s do it.”
Pickett has shown signs of his potential, but injuries and a change in offensive coordinator have largely neutralized his growth.
As for Wilson, during his visit to Pittsburgh over the weekend, he spent several “hours” with new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, CBS Sports HQ NFL Insider Josina Anderson. reported on friday.
The nine-time Pro Bowler is surely looking to prove he still has it after his failed two-year run with the Denver Broncos. He was benched at the end of the 2023 season despite playing significantly better that year than in 2022.
“Honestly, I have more fire than ever, especially the last two years and what I’ve been through.” Wilson recently said on the “I Am Athlete” podcast.. “For me, it’s about winning. In the next five years, I want to win two. I want to feel the cold of that trophy again. I love the city and everything else, but I also want to be somewhere I love you too. “I want to win, that’s the only thing that matters to me.”
If Wilson wants to win, maybe he can do it in Pittsburgh. The Steelers offense has several notable playmakers including running backs. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warrenreceivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson and tight end Pat Freiermuth. Pittsburgh’s offense did enough last season to help the Steelers make the playoffs with a 10-7 record.
The 35-year-old’s career has been on a downward trajectory for the past three seasons, but now that he’s in Pittsburgh, he’ll have a chance to prove he can still play. The Steelers hope he can harness some of the magic that once helped him lead the Seattle Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls.
[ad_2]
Source link