News broke on Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers and free agent quarterback Russell Wilson have mutual interest in teaming up together. The Super Bowl-winning signal-caller's name has been brought up in the Steel City throughout the 2024 offseason, but not more than the younger external option in Justin Fields. The franchise is currently carrying just one guy at the position on the depth chart with it being 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. The prospect of bringing in a formidable quarterback to compete with Pickett is attractive, but one respected insider isn't fully sold on the front office's intentions.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A7671-544x306.jpg "Steelers Omar Khan")
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Steelers General Manager, Omar Khan signs for and meets with fans during the team's 2023 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic has always been a big-time fan of Mason Rudolph. The veteran played extremely well down the stretch in 2023, and got the nod in the playoff game over Pickett as Head Coach Mike Tomlin decided to ride the hot hand. He is headed for free agency in less than a week, unless the Steelers can convince him to stay around with a chance to win over the starting job permanently.
The insider confirmed the report that originally came from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac, but isn't fully buying stock in Pittsburgh's desires to bring in the veteran in Wilson. There could be a real possibility the organization leaked the information to push Rudolph to grab his pen and sign on the dotted line. Additionally, it could send a strong message to Pickett about where he currently stands.
"There is nothing that previously suggested Wilson was sought after or even wanted by the Steelers, and probably for good reason. But when you consider that the news of Wilson meeting with the Steelers might bring Rudolph to the extension table quicker, maybe drive down his price all while sending Pickett a message (even if it would be a veiled attempt), it makes sense," Kaboly wrote.
It's certainly an interesting theory, and not out of the scope of possibility. Kaboly wrote his piece prior to it being confirmed that Wilson would be traveling to the Steel City for a visit.
Signing a guy like Wilson would be a very uncharacteristic move by the Steelers. The expected move, based on history, would be to re-sign Rudolph and let two in-house candidates compete to be under center in Week 1. Rudolph can roll the dice and call Pittsburgh's bluff, testing free agency, or sign and secure himself a second-string job with the potential to start in a familiar atmosphere.
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Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (#2) makes a throw during a 2022 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
The second part to Kaboly's theory is just as intriguing. One can expect that Pickett saw the report regarding Wilson and is shaking in his boots a little bit knowing that he could go into training camp as the projected backup. Wilson's prime is past him, but it's hard to believe him accepting a chance in Pittsburgh without knowing he is going to have to lose the starting gig, rather than win it over Pickett.
General Manager Omar Khan has an extremely strategic mind and this kind of news breaking prior to the start of free agency is certainly interesting timing. It was also specifically stated by Dulac that the Steelers want to meet with Wilson before free agency begins. Why the rush? It very well could be because the team wants Rudolph to forget about the open market and stay in the city that drafted him in 2018.
There isn't a doubt that the Steelers can't simply hand the starting job to Pickett in 2024. The separate moves of either signing Wilson or bringing back Rudolph tell two totally different stories. The latter doesn't ruin Pickett's confidence or hopes to be Pittsburgh's franchise signal-caller. Wilson coming to town may just be the writing on the wall for the former first-rounder.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers then-rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) makes a throw during 2022 training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Showing Willingness To Push Pickett, Regardless
Wilson being signed would certainly affect Pickett's chances of being in Pittsburgh long-term. Rudolph coming back isn't as much of a worry given that Pickett beat him out two seasons in a row. Sure, Rudolph played over him late in 2023, but that was simply riding the hot hand. Whichever way Pittsburgh decides to go, Pickett is due for a wake-up call.
Do you think the news breaking about Wilson is all a smoke screen? Let us know in the comments below!
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