When the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson publicized their divorce final week, hypothesis ran wild on the place the ageing nine-time Professional Bowl quarterback would land.
The Las Vegas Raiders headlined a Yahoo Sports activities ballot of quarterback brokers and league executives’ predictions.
However the one quarterback agent, who overachieved and ranked three high guesses, waited to say the Raiders till third.
The agent slotted the Atlanta Falcons second.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers, in what now appears prescient, ranked first.
“Apparent want and a playoff group,” the agent texted six days earlier than Wilson and the NFL tweeted obvious confirmations. “That is his finest shot to begin and have [a] aggressive group.”
Wilson appears to agree. As a result of by Sunday night time, roughly 16 hours earlier than the Steelers may legally submit a deal to the league, Wilson tweeted a video.
Its caption: “12 months 13. Grateful. @Steelers”
The NFL’s official Twitter account chimed in to its 35 million followers: “.@DangeRussWilson is a Steeler!!”
The wedding is intriguing, with Wilson poised to compete with 2022 first-round draft decide Kenny Pickett and a probable third quarterback within the constructing (veteran journeyman Mason Rudolph ended the 2023 season beginning for Pittsburgh, however is scheduled to hit free company).
As fascinating is the haste with which the Steelers moved to lock up Wilson.
Certain, his $1.2 million veteran minimal wage is a sexy price ticket. However Wilson has additionally discovered combined reception in locker rooms and group places of work, and his play declined sufficient to persuade the Broncos (and largely head coach Sean Payton) that $85 million in lifeless salary-cap house is extra palatable than calling upon the providers the Broncos will likely be paying for.
So why comply with a deal so shortly?
It is sensible the Steelers would need to lock up a participant they need (particularly at Wilson’s bargain-bin value level) in an effort to plan the remainder of their personnel strikes and free company technique accordingly.
Wilson, although, had extra purpose to attend. With cash as no object, why not assure his best probability to begin? Some executives and brokers believed Wilson would wait till after the NFL Draft to find a group that wanted him, particularly in 2024. Discover a group that didn’t get the quarterback it sought or a group who did however is aware of the child wants time, league voices reasoned.
“Search for a group with a younger and suspect QB,” an agent mentioned.
“Watch for harm? Like all mud has to settle,” an govt added.
Then got here one other govt who arrange a paradigm.
“In virtually all circumstances, the earlier the higher so he can get the system, reps, and so forth. …” the chief mentioned. “I’d really feel first rate that it’s performed shortly, if beginning.
“If he’s a backup, then all bets are off as a result of there’s not the identical quantity of urgency.”
Which brings us to what the Steelers could have revealed Sunday night time: We must always count on Wilson to be in authentic rivalry to begin for Pittsburgh in 2024.
Count on him to begin working with receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, and to begin studying first-year coordinator (and former Falcons head coach) Arthur Smith’s scheme. Count on Wilson to have a significant probability to supplant Pickett, who accomplished 62% of move makes an attempt for two,070 yards, six touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 12 video games final season. And count on Wilson to get actual snaps in offseason actions and coaching camp, whether or not or not Rudolph returns to the constructing. (The Steelers appear to have higher leverage to deliver Rudolph again at a less expensive value now, if Rudolph needs to remain.)
Neglect the criticism of Wilson, who by the best way ranked eighth in passer ranking and ninth in touchdowns regardless of Payton benching him in December. Neglect Steelers common supervisor Omar Khan’s assertions on the NFL scouting mix final month that he has “full religion in Kenny” amid “points within the offense final yr,” an on-camera quote that appeared to levy blame at coach and playbook and assuage it from participant.
Solely afterward did Khan supply up what may be the truest a part of his assertion.
“We’ll have some robust competitors there” at quarterback, he mentioned, “and we’ll see the place it goes.”
It’s not onerous to check one highway the Steelers quarterback competitors may very probably journey. Ready on the finish, earlier than lengthy, is the coronation of Wilson.