I love the signing because EVEN IF IT FAILS

[NorthCoast]

Wilson is what Trubisky was supposed to be, a bridge QB that could win games until Pickett is ready to make the leap (or fail).

And if Pickett balls out in preseason and wins the job outright, then the Steelers have the best backup in the division.

The Steelers have been consistent in how they view the QB situation:

"view Kenny as a QB1, but will need to compete"
"will bring in a veteran with experience"
"expect this is a big season for Kenny"

The moves they made haven't changed their position. It's outside the org that people are interpreting this as something negative for KP. You have to applaud the org for meeting these expectations in the least expensive manner possible.

[Buzz]

I know some have the immediate instinct to look for the negative in everything, but there is no downside to this signing.

I mentioned in another thread that I think the front office rightly sees that we have a three (3) year window before Watt, Minkah and others start to fade. They aren't willing to wait until Pickett "gets it". Just looking at last season, Wilson is 10x better than Pickett. I love that the organization is saying win now. Just remember Art's comments after the season.

INn reality, this is more than a one year solution unless Wilson falls apart. This is a "prove it" but likely he has at least three good years in him.

You think we'll have Wilson on board for 3 years? Interesting.
If he has a good season, I don't see the Steelers paying what he will demand for his next contract. If he has a bad season, I don't see the Steelers keeping him on. I think this is a one-year rental.

We shall see.

[Dwinsgames]

you all can say what you want but at the end of the day if Russell Wilson can replicate what he did last year statistically here in Pittsburgh 66.4% completion percentage 26 TDs and 8 ints ( double the amount of TD passes we had last year and less INTs ) that spells 3-4 more wins IMO and that changes the entire playoff picture ... football is about matchups so instead of playing the 1 or 2 seed you potentially are the 1 or 2 seed playing the 7 or 8th seed and at home ..... that likely roadmaps you into the conference championship game instead of 1 and done ....

we do not need superstar play at QB with the way our defense plays we just have to have a legit NFL QB who can make some plays ...Wilson can do that .....

for those saying its wasting KP , that is laughable what it is a waste is playing Pickett and letting the prime years of TJ and Minkah go by the way side and the final years of Cam go down the drain ... thats beyond wasteful that tragic

[Chucktownsteeler]

Yes, and in this case "Win-Now" doesn't mean mortgaging the future with a large cap hit or losing valuable DRAFT Capitol.

Truly a win-win scenario.

[Oviedo]

I know some have the immediate instinct to look for the negative in everything, but there is no downside to this signing.

I mentioned in another thread that I think the front office rightly sees that we have a three (3) year window before Watt, Minkah and others start to fade. They aren't willing to wait until Pickett "gets it". Just looking at last season, Wilson is 10x better than Pickett. I love that the organization is saying win now. Just remember Art's comments after the season.

INn reality, this is more than a one year solution unless Wilson falls apart. This is a "prove it" but likely he has at least three good years in him.

[Buzz]

What defines working out? Are the Steelers just trying to win a playoff game at this point under the directive of Rooney? Is that the ceiling here for one season? Oh boy.

This is what I'm reading in several places ... the goal is to win a playoff game.

I guess that's better than having a goal of being over .500 for the season, but I'd sure rather have them looking to build a true Super Bowl contender.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

What defines working out? Are the Steelers just trying to win a playoff game at this point under the directive of Rooney? Is that the ceiling here for one season? Oh boy.

I'm too lazy can someone start a poll what are the expectations with Wilson for next season.

I say we will win a playoff game now. The first time is seven years.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

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

How so? Wilson is our starter for a year. Pickett is still under contact for 3 more years.

[T.Ferguson]

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

What defines working out? Are the Steelers just trying to win a playoff game at this point under the directive of Rooney? Is that the ceiling here for one season? Oh boy.

I'm too lazy can someone start a poll what are the expectations with Wilson for next season.

[feltdizz]

Going into a season with Kenny and Mason/Tanny/Brissett sets us back a year.


Worst case, they start Russ, it doesn't work, and they hand the job to Kenny again in 2025.

Not sure how a failed year is different with Wilson. Its still a fail.

This needs to work.

[WindyCitySteel]

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

Going into a season with Kenny and Mason/Tanny/Brissett sets us back a year.

Worst case, they start Russ, it doesn't work, and they hand the job to Kenny again in 2025.

[feltdizz]

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

[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.

[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]

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.