Contract Terms
Nine-time Pro Bowl QB and former Super Bowl champ Russell Wilson plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to multiple reports. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Wilson will sign a team-friendly, one-year deal in which the Broncos will wind up paying $38 million of Wilson's salary.
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Fantasy Football Impact
Wilson confirmed the news with a social media post on Sunday night. The veteran quarterback wrote: "Year 13. Grateful." With it was an accompanying video of the Steelers and their fans.
Wilson, 35, was told by the Broncos last Monday that they would be releasing him, ending an inauspicious two-season run in which Denver went 11-19 in his starts and failed to make the playoffs. He was benched with two games remaining in 2023, ending the season with 3,070 passing yards to go with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Broncos, who signed Wilson to a five-year, $242.6 million deal after his arrival in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, will take on an $85 million hit in dead money over the next two seasons because of the release. As noted above, Denver will also pay the bulk (minus the veteran minimum salary of $1.2 million) of Wilson's $39 million 2024 salary.
Wilson spent 10 seasons with Seattle, making nine Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl. A third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2012, he has thrown for 43,653 yards with 334 touchdowns and 106 interceptions.
Wilson now heads to Pittsburgh with Kenny Pickett, the Steelers' 2022 first-round pick, being the only quarterback currently under contract to the team. Mason Rudolph is entering free agency after starting three games for Pittsburgh last season.
According to multiple reports, Wilson visited with Steelers officials in Pittsburgh for over six hours Friday. He met with, among others, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The two sides had a mutual interest that led to their one-year deal.
Earlier in the day, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler advised readers that while the team had begun the process of rebuilding Pickett -- Smith had recently visited him in South Florida -- the Steelers were always bringing in competition. Fowler went on to suggest signing Wilson, "Would be that and then some, as it's hard to imagine Wilson as anything other than a starter."
ESPN.com's Matt Bowen contends that, at this stage of his career, Wilson fits best in a play-action system that will keep him in rhythm from the pocket and allow him to operate as a distributor. With a strong rushing attack led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, the Steelers have all the ingredients necessary to set Wilson up for success.
Footballguy Jason Wood agrees, writing: "Love this for the Steelers. I have Wilson at QB18 right now, so not a fantasy thriller but more than effective enough to get the Steelers back into contention in the AFC North."
That's the rub here. Wilson can be two things at once. He can be a quarterback capable of starting for and improving a Steelers offense that lacks a high-end option at the position. At the same time, we can be realistic and view him as a less-than-appealing fantasy prospect heading into Pittsburgh with plenty of questions about just how productive he'll be -- and asked to be.
Wilson currently sits at QB21 on the Footballguys 2024 Draft Rankigs, but Wood's QB18 ranking is probably closer to where the newcomer will end up after this move. That would put him right in the middle of the pack of fantasy QB2s, meaning a viable starter in SuperFlex formats, assuming he makes good on the expectation he'll beat Pickett out this summer.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
The immediate reaction here is that Steelers wideout George Pickens is a winner. As Yahoo Sports and Reception Perception analyst Matt Harmon pointed out, "Wilson has always loved his ball-winning X-receivers. Could develop something with Pickens if he wins this job." Remember, Wilson's deep balls were a factor in Courtland Sutton's 10-touchdown outburst in 2023. Believing Pickens can be that same kind of deep threat capable of winning on contested passes seems very reasonable.
Meanwhile, reports began circulating earlier in the day suggesting the Steelers are fielding trade offers for Diontae Johnson. Such a report would be indicative of a team that believes in Pickens heading into his third season as a pro. You should expect fantasy managers to make that connection as the season draws nearer. Pickens is listed as WR27 on our initial 2024 Draft Rankings.
For what it's worth, Arizona is said to be interested in Johnson, who currently ranks as our WR54.
Harris and Warren would likely remain plenty busy no matter who wins the quarterback competition. Both backs reside in RB2 territory on our initial 2024 Draft Rankings.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth flashed at times last year, but lackluster QB play, unimaginative offensive play calling, and a hamstring injury that cost him five games all combined to limit the fourth-year man. Freiermuth currently sits at TE19 on our initial rankings; a change of quarterback, at the very least, makes him appealing as a TE2 with possible upside.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
Quarterback Russell Wilson, who is set to be released by the Broncos, plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers when the new league year begins on March 13 and will cost them $1.2 million. The veteran threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season for Denver. He'll compete with Kenny Pickett for the starting role in Pittsburgh, with Wilson opening as the favorite. Assuming he earns the starting assignment, Wilson will be a middle-of-the-pack QB2 for fantasy purposes.