Analyst Thinks Russell Wilson Would Have No Chance Against Kenny Pickett

Former Denver Broncos Russell Wilson visited with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday. Wilson enjoyed a lengthy free agent visit with the Steelers , according to a report by Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, but no deal is in place between the team and Wilson as of late on Friday.

The Steelers and Giants are the only teams that Wilson has met with so far, but the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to be a team to express interest.

Former NFL offensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody thinks Wilson needs to be careful if he signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he could be on the bench holding a clipboard even if he’s better than Kenny Pickett.

“This would be a dangerous decision for Russell Wilson, going to Pittsburgh, because I think this Pittsburgh Steelers team, they’re not giving up on Kenny Pickett,” Woody said on GetUp Friday. “They got rid of Matt Canada, they could have easily said, you know what, we’re gonna go a different route as far as  bringing in another quarterback. But they brought in Arthur Smith, (he) goes down to South Florida where Kenny Pickett is training to meet with him to build that rapport. We’re talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers, same Pittsburgh Steelers organization that has three coaches (since 1969). They’re not gonna just throw away a guy that they just drafted in the first round a couple of years ago.”

.@damienwoody is NOT sold on Russell Wilson playing for the Steelers:

"There's a big possibility that ultimately if he goes to Pittsburgh he'll lose out to Kenny Pickett." pic.twitter.com/5fWvPOXPy2

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 8, 2024

The Broncos gave Wilson a guaranteed $39 million in salary for the 2024 season, and any amount the Steelers or any other team would pay him would simply be removed from Denver’s commitments. With Wilson coming at cheap price, there should be several other quarterback-needy teams interested other than just the Steelers and Giants.

“At the end of the day, what this tells me is, Russell Wilson really has to be about this football life now,” Woody said. “Because there’s a big possibility that ultimately if he goes to Pittsburgh, he’ll lose out to Kenny Pickett … and it might not be fair. Like, he could outplay him, but they still could ride with Kenny Pickett because he’s their first-round pick and they brought in a new offensive coordinator. So, that’s the type of situation that Russell Wilson really has to consider.”