Super Bowl Winning QB Reportedly Meeting With Browns Biggest Rival
Competing in the AFC North right now is a arms race.
With two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and the calm, cool and collected Joe Burrow residing in the division, the Browns and Steelers have been trying to play catch-up at the quarterback position in recent years. It's why Cleveland made the blockbuster trade for Deshaun Watson two years ago. And why the Steelers exploring their options at the position this offseason.
According to a report from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers are planning on meeting with recently released Broncos QB, Russell Wilson at the start of free agency next week.
Dulac noted that there is mutual interest between the Steelers and Wilson in joining forces after he was released by the Broncos on Tuesday.
By cutting ties with Wilson, Denver takes on $85 million in dead cap fees – the remnants of guaranteed money from the five-year $242.6 million contract the team doled out to Wilson after trading for him in 2022.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed the team's desire to have an open competition at quarterback in his end of the season press conference, despite naming Kenny Pickett the teams top QB. Competition could take several different form as Pittsburgh seems to have an interest in retaining long-time backup Mason Rudolph as competition for Pickett. Rudolph actually started under center for the final four games of the regular season, plus their playoff matchup with Buffalo. It's unclear what the potential addition of Wilson would mean for both Pickett and Rudolph, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent next week.
Wilson, the XLVIII Super Bowl Champion with Seattle, has seen his numbers dip in recent years navigating an NFL career in his mid-30s. This past season though, his numbers made a bit of a resurgence as he tossed 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. The Broncos did bench Wilson for the final two games of the regular season due to a guaranteed for injury financial clause in his contract.
