After two subpar seasons in Denver, many think Russell Wilson is washed. Former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington even stated that the 35-year-old Wilson doesn’t have the same drive and grit that he once had in Seattle, where he made nine Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl in 2013.
Wilson debunked any speculation that he lacks motivation during an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast recently. In fact, he said he wants to win two Super Bowls over the next five years.
“I’ve got more fire now than ever, and for me, it’s all about winning,” Wilson said. “I just want to win. I hope it’s in Denver. I hope I get to finish there. I committed there. I wanted to be there. I want to be there. For me, it’s about winning. Over the next five years, I want to win two. I want to feel that trophy again. I love the city and everything else. But you also want to be in a place that wants you.”
It’s expected that the Broncos will cut Wilson before his 2025 salary of $37 million becomes fully guaranteed on March 17. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks Wilson should take a one-year $1.21 million deal if he wants to be a starting QB next season. Denver would owe Wilson $39 million upon release, but that figure would be reduced depending on Wilson’s next contract.
“The possibility of getting a starting quarterback for one year at $1.21 million should tempt any team with an unsettled quarterback situation,” Florio wrote. “The Raiders were the first team mentioned after Wilson was benched. The Steelers are the current betting favorites to land him. The Falcons, for $1.21 million, should be in the mix. The Vikings should compare what they could get from Wilson for one year at $1.21 million to what it would cost them to keep Kirk Cousins.”
Wilson had a dreadful season in 2022, but he wasn’t awful in 2023, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,070 yards with 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and a 98.0 quarterback rating. It was below the line for what Denver was paying him, but his 26 touchdowns were a lot more than the Steelers 13 total touchdown passes combined from Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Feb. 17 that the Steelers are not interested in signing or otherwise acquiring a quarterback that will demand to be the team’s starter. Steelers Now was able to confirm that the Steelers are not actively seeking an external starting quarterback. It seems highly doubtful that Wilson would want to come to Pittsburgh and serve as a backup if the Steelers are all-in on Pickett.