When the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson announced their divorce last week, curiosity erupted about where the aging nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback would settle.
The Las Vegas Raiders led a Yahoo Sports survey of quarterback agents and league officials’ forecasts.
However, the one QB agent who outperformed and listed three top guesses did not include the Raiders until the third.
The agent ranked the Atlanta Falcons second.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers were ranked top, which now appears prescient.
“Obvious need and a playoff team,” the agent texted six days before Wilson and the NFL issued apparent confirmations. “This is his best shot to start and have [a] competitive team.”
Wilson appears to agree. Wilson tweeted a video on Sunday night, approximately 16 hours before the Steelers could legally submit a deal to the NFL.
Year 13. Grateful. @Steelers pic.twitter.com/0U4Q2sRtXs
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 11, 2024
.@DangeRussWilson is a Steeler ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nrccjdke7A
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2024
The marriage is fascinating, with Wilson set to compete with 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett and a potential third quarterback in the building.
It’s also fascinating to see how quickly the Steelers pushed to sign Wilson.
Sure, his veteran minimum pay of $1.2 million is attractive. However, Wilson has received mixed reviews in locker rooms and team offices, and his play has deteriorated sufficiently to persuade the Broncos (particularly head coach Sean Payton) that $85 million in dead salary-cap space is preferable to calling on the services the Broncos will pay for.
