I love the signing because EVEN IF IT FAILS

[Captain Lemming]

I love the signing. High reward low risk in my book.

BUT IF IT GOES SOUTH We get the best fail nickname in STEELER HISTORY. Better than Dwight hands of stone. Better than BURNT Alexander. Better than my classic BustWheat.

My friends I introduce to you the best fail nickname in franchise history.

Russ too old in the STEEL city?

RUST WILSON
(tm Captain Lemming)

Heck this is the Mean Joe, Fast Willie, Steel Curtain of fail nicknames.

[Northern_Blitz]

Yep. Since cost is nothing, no risk.

Will be interesting to see how KP tests to signing. Have to think that Wilson is the day 1 starter.

We'll also be interesting to see if Mason had a market or of he comes back.

Could we possibly trade Kenny?

If it's true that DJ asked to be traded, does this change that?

[Northern_Blitz]

Yep. Since cost is nothing, no risk.

Will be interesting to see how KP tests to signing. Have to think that Wilson is the day 1 starter.

We'll also be interesting to see if Mason had a market or of he comes back.

Could we possibly trade Kenny?

If it's true that DJ asked to be traded, does this change that?

I think it will also be interesting to see if it has an impact on how we spend our early round picks.

Do we now prioritize guys who are more ready over guys with higher ceilings?

[Jooser]

Yep. Since cost is nothing, no risk.

Will be interesting to see how KP tests to signing. Have to think that Wilson is the day 1 starter.

We'll also be interesting to see if Mason had a market or of he comes back.

Could we possibly trade Kenny?

If it's true that DJ asked to be traded, does this change that?

I smell a trade. I don't know if it's Pickett or DJ, but I think something is in the works.

["BuzzNuter"]

Perhaps "Rusted" Wilson would be better representative of a failed Wilson.

[NorthCoast]

I was curious, so here's a few posts from a Ravens board:

I mean it sucks it?s that it?s with a divisional rival but it makes sense from his perspective.

They have the weapons to be dangerous. Competitive team and with a brand new OC. Can possibly show off this year and get another big deal next offseason.

Of course it?s the Steelers that luck into a Super Bowl winning QB for what?s probably going to be damn near vet minimum because the Broncos are dumb.

I?m not too worried, I mean hopefully we take the Steelers more seriously now and quit letting them dog walk us in the 2nd half every game

The Steelers had 13 passing TDs and 9 Interceptions last year.

Russell Wilson had 26 TDs and 8 Interceptions last year

The get someone who in a bad year can double their passing touchdowns for league minimum. It's a no-brainer for the Steelers. The Ravens have only beaten the Steelers once since 2019, 1-7 in the past 8 meetings, so this doesn't make things tougher in head to head. It's already the Ravens most difficullt matchup to win each year

2 things. Mediocre at best is still light years better than the slop they were putting out there. Maybe us being the only team that struggled to beat Kenny Pickett has skewed opinions here...he was objectively terrible and Trubisky and Rudolph even worse. Second is they have a pretty damn strong supporting cast of players.

I'm not scared of this signing, it's not like I think this makes them the best team in the division or whatever...but this is a good signing for them.

[WindyCitySteel]

I like the process, improve for cheap at the most important position. Really need to go all in on free agency, though, can't do more of this bargain bin shopping to (not really) fill holes.

[Eich]

Gotta admit, I feel a little weird / mixed about this.

One one hand, it's an instant, inexpensive and significant upgrade at the position.

On the other, it's an un-Steelers-like move. Short-term thinking. Wilson isn't a "Steeler". He'll always be the face of the Seahags IMO. I've never been a huge fan of bringing in some other team's franchise guy for a last hurrah.

But I do see why it makes sense and will for sure cheer him on!

Kenny has to feel strange. I'd have to think the job is now Wilson's to lose. I can imagine him not being the starter on Day 1.

And if Kenny feels strange, how does Rudolph feel?! If somehow he's back with the Steelers again, where does he end up in the pecking order? QB3 again? You'd have to think he wants to leave in FA more than ever.

[WindyCitySteel]

And if Kenny feels strange, how does Rudolph feel?! If somehow he's back with the Steelers again, where does he end up in the pecking order? QB3 again? You'd have to think he wants to leave in FA more than ever.

Maybe Russ needs a pool boy.

[flippy]

Yep. Since cost is nothing, no risk.

Will be interesting to see how KP tests to signing. Have to think that Wilson is the day 1 starter.

We'll also be interesting to see if Mason had a market or of he comes back.

Could we possibly trade Kenny?

If it's true that DJ asked to be traded, does this change that?

Id say it?s a huge risk if Russ isn?t better than Mason and/or Kenny.

Saying yes to Russ costs $1m, but it also sends Mason away and Kenny to the bench. That could end up being a huge cost.

Worth it for a 36 year old QB who by many accounts isn?t a great QB or teammate for 1 year?

I dunno. He may need to win a SuperBowl for it to be worth it.

Look at it from the Seahawks or Broncos perspective. They are paying $100m+ for Russ to go away. That tells us 2 teams see him as a huge risk at any cost. So much so they are paying massive money for him to go away.

Rust might be the best call in this thread

[T.Ferguson]

I just don't see the point of it honestly, it'd be one thing if it was Wilson 6 years ago but it's not and it's a 1 year deal. If the Steelers were legit SB contenders than yeah but the team simply isn't. But it also essentially means the team is likely giving up on KP if Wilson is the starter so that was a waste of a 1st round pick and it's not so much that KP didn't pan out if that is the case it's how the team handled him that is a much bigger issue.

On another note, it will be so weird seeing Wilson in a Steelers uniform, I imagine it'll be similar to seeing Franco in a Hawks uniform! Wilson will always be a Hawk, Franco was always a Steeler.

[Eich]

Id say it?s a huge risk if Russ isn?t better than Mason and/or Kenny.

Saying yes to Russ costs $1m, but it also sends Mason away and Kenny to the bench. That could end up being a huge cost.

Worth it for a 36 year old QB who by many accounts isn?t a great QB or teammate for 1 year?

I dunno. He may need to win a SuperBowl for it to be worth it.

Look at it from the Seahawks or Broncos perspective. They are paying $100m+ for Russ to go away. That tells us 2 teams see him as a huge risk at any cost. So much so they are paying massive money for him to go away.

Rust might be the best call in this thread

I agree with most of this. While Super Bowl is very unlikely on a 1 year deal, it seems like the Steelers are reaching to find a way to end the playoff drought THIS season. Will be interesting to see how the rest of the off-season plays out. But it feels like they've decided that their franchise QB is not on the roster. This is a band aid move.

[Buzz]

I agree with most of this. While Super Bowl is very unlikely on a 1 year deal, it seems like the Steelers are reaching to find a way to end the playoff drought THIS season. Will be interesting to see how the rest of the off-season plays out. But it feels like they've decided that their franchise QB is not on the roster. This is a band aid move.

He's not clearly better than any other QB in this division; we still might have 3 teams ahead of us in that dept (2 anyway). Hope I'm wrong, but I don't see this move significantly helping our record this season, and it sure doesn't seem to be anything that will improve us long-term.

[Eich]

He's not clearly better than any other QB in this division; we still might have 3 teams ahead of us in that dept (2 anyway). Hope I'm wrong, but I don't see this move significantly helping our record this season, and it sure doesn't seem to be anything that will improve us long-term.

He doesn't have to be better than the other QBs in the division. That's a TALL order and a problem nearly impossible to solve in one off-season. He just has to help make the Steelers better than the other teams in the division. Also a tall order but we swept the Rats with Kenny last season, and the Clowns are the Clowns.

But I agree, this is very short-term thinking. I hope they're thinking hard about the long-term and with more than just a hope that Kenny can eventually be THE guy. The way they've managed Kenny to this point is about as bad as you can manage a number 1 pick.

[feltdizz]

This better work. If not, while cheap.. its sets us back a year.