Steelers' Arthur Smith Was Best Possible Solution To Revive Russell Wilson's Career

The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially in the Russell Wilson business in 2024. Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, and Art Rooney II have rolled the dice and brought in a 35-year-old quarterback to correct the current situation under center. According to the team, former first-round draft pick, Kenny Pickett will get an opportunity to compete with Wilson for the starting job in Arthur Smith's offense. 

Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection as a quarterback and has won one Super Bowl in two tries with the Seattle Seahawks. He spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, severely damaging his current market value. Wilson will earn $39 million in 2024, but the Steelers will only pay him $1.21 million; the Broncos are footing the rest of the bill. 

On Thursday, before he signed with Pittsburgh, former Broncos Super Bowl champion and current NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, ripped Wilson for his performance in Denver on The Pat McAfee Show. The weekend and the reality of Wilson moving on to the Steelers have softened Schlereth's views. On Monday, he joined The Rich Eisen Show and sang a more upbeat version of his sour tune from last week. 

"In Pittsburgh. And I said this a couple of months ago when they got Arthur Smith as their coordinator. That's the best landing spot for Russell Wilson," Schlereth explained. "You have an elite-level defense like he did in Seattle."

The Steelers defense has elite players. Despite what Pro Football Focus thinks, TJ Watt is the best defensive player on the planet. Cam Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick are among the best at their positions in the NFL. Pittsburgh is a difficult defense to score against, and a competent quarterback could thrive by putting up 24 points in a ball controlled offense. 

According to CBS Sports reporter, Aditi Kinkhabwala, the Steelers' offensive coaching staff was rumored to be deeply offended by the rampant Pickett hate at the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. That anger must wear off quickly, as they will now be tasked with designing plays to resurrect Wilson's career. Schlereth reminded Rich Eisen that it was not a new mission for Smith, who had resurrected Ryan Tannehill's career with the Tennessee Titans.

"You create a run game like Arthur Smith did in Tennessee when Ryan Tannehill took over and obviously Derrick Henry was an absolute beast," Schlereth continued. "You had a great offensive line as well. When you do all those things in the play-action game, the boot-keep game, those are things he can still do. He can still throw the deep ball."

Wilson will have the best pair of receivers he has had to work with since the 2021 season in Seattle with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. George Pickens, like Metcalf, has a huge catch radius and has already proven he can post big numbers with limited opportunities. Wilson and Pickens could develop a significant connection that will benefit both of them heading into contract years. Diontae Johnson will also be playing for a new contract, but if he elects to "hold-in" as he did before the 2022 season, it could hamper his development of a connection with Wilson.

Eisen pointed out to Schlereth that the Steelers and Tomlin are promising a quarterback competition in training camp. Eisen asked the Fox Sports game analyst who he thought would have the edge and ultimately be named the starter in Pittsburgh. Schlereth again based his answer on Pittsburgh's new offensive coordinator. 

"I think it will be Russell Wilson," Schlereth concluded. "I think there will be a competition there, but I think Russell, this really goes back to my belief in Arthur Smith, so I think Russell will win that competition. Arthur Smith will create an offense based on the run game, based on multiple tight ends, on heavy personnel. Anytime you get one of those offenses, you are going to create a single high safety situation that gives you access one on one to the outside. There is nobody in my mind who throws a better deep ball than Russell Wilson. I think Arthur Smith will create an offense in which Russell can survive and Russell can thrive."

Steelers And Russell Wilson's Goals Are Aligned In 2024 

Wilson and the Steelers are at a crossroads. The former Pro Bowl quarterback wants to demonstrate he still has what it takes to lead a team deep into the playoffs. Tomlin and Pittsburgh have not won a playoff game in seven seasons. The pairing of Smith and Wilson could give them the recipe for winning football in January and maybe even February. 

The bottom line is that the two parties desperately need each other. It is not for altruistic reasons. Pittsburgh wants to start winning playoff games again and is willing to bet Wilson is the one who can get them to that goal. Wilson, for his part, wants to get one more big contract and restore his tarnished image. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you agree with Schlereth that Wilson could thrive in the Pittsburgh offense under Smith? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.

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