The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dealing with below average quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Mitch Trubisky struggled when he took snaps in the black and gold, 2022 first round pick Kenny Pickett has had a rough career so far, and Mason Rudolph had some success, but most knew it wasn't sustainable. General Manager Omar Khan went out and agreed to a deal with nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, which will certainly help the Steelers offense as he is assumed to take over the starting role.
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Quarterback Russell Wilson during Denver Broncos' training camp in June of 2022.
Wilson has been one of the league's most polarizing quarterbacks over the last two seasons. He signed a big deal with the Denver Broncos after being traded there from the Seattle Seahawks, and he struggled in his first season there in 2022. Under Sean Payton in 2023, Wilson was much more efficient, but was eventually benched at the end of the season for refusing to change the injury clause in his contract. Wilson is a big character, and many Pittsburgh fans are skeptical about the signing. Analyst Dan Orlovsky recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and explained why Steelers fans should be excited about their new quarterback.
"It's a great fit between player and coach and the system they want to run. The reality is, waking up yesterday morning the Steelers realistically did not have a chance within the division. They now realistically have a chance. Are they the favorite over Baltimore or Cincinnati? No, but Russell Wilson last year, in the midst of chaos, not great offensive line play and skill position players that weren't always healthy, was a top 10, top 12 quarterback for most of the season."
Wilson has been highly scrutinized since being traded to Denver from Seattle, but he quietly had a very impressive season in 2023. Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, that was just one less touchdown than Patrick Mahomes while also throwing six less interceptions. Wilson will also add some versatility to the Steelers offense due to his mobility.
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
Wilson will also have a much better supporting cast in Pittsburgh than he had in Denver. A better tight end in Pat Freiermuth, and better starting wide receivers in George Pickens and Diontae Johnson. Wilson also won't be relied upon as much in Pittsburgh due to the explosive duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the backfield. Orlovsky explained why Wilson is primed to succeed with better players around him.
"If you just take last year, and you get that Russell Wilson, and I would say Pittsburgh as an offense in totality is a better situation. The offensive line is going to be better than it was in Denver, and the skill position people are definitely better. You're going to get a team that last year was 10-7, that's worth two more wins. That's just the truth."
Regardless of what happened with Wilson in Denver, he is an upgrade over the Steelers quarterback situation going into the 2023 season. Wilson will be in a “camp battle” with Pickett heading into the 2024 season, but it is likely that is just a formality and the starting job is already Wilson's. Wilson was 7-8 as a starter in 2023, and now he is surrounded by a team that was considered to be “a quarterback away,” so wins should be easier to come by for Wilson and the Steelers in 2024.
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Steelers' quarterback Russell Wilson.
Steelers Will Be Able To Compete In AFC North In 2024
The Steelers went 5-1 within the AFC North during the 2023 season, yet still finished third in the division. The 5-1 record could be considered a fluke to some, since they didn't have to play Joe Burrow either time they played the Cincinnati Bengals, and their first win over the Baltimore Ravens could be described as the Ravens losing the game more than the Steelers won it (due to drops and other errors made by Baltimore). Their other win over the Ravens came in Week 18 against several backups.
It'll be much more difficult to find the same success within the division that the Steelers had in 2023, but Wilson will hopefully give them an offense that is capable to make plays and produce against their rivals. In both games against the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Pickett and the offense struggled mightily. In the first matchup, the Steelers defense outscored their own offense, and in the second game, the Steelers scored just 10 points.
Wilson gives the offense a better chance to compete against quality opponents, and since three teams in the AFC North made the playoffs in 2023, that will be extremely important if Pittsburgh wants to succeed in 2024.
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