The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to extend the contract of quarterback Russell Wilson if they want to keep him in Pittsburgh beyond the 2024 season, and the price tag may have been revealed.
Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz said on Friday during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd that the Steelers could offer Wilson a deal similar to the one that Baker Mayfield got after his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“They believe they have found that solution with Russell Wilson,” Schultz said on Friday. “The biggest thing that Russell has going for him is the relationship with Mike Tomlin. … Tomlin really advocated him to ownership, said this is a guy that can build around.”
Mayfield signed a three-year, $102 million contract with the Bucs and $50 million of that money was guaranteed. His cap his is $6.9 million in 2024, but balloons to $35.775 million in 2025 and $45.775 million in 2026. The contract also comes with $11.55 million in void years, incurring a dead cap charge for the 2027 season.
Only $10 million of Mayfield’s contract is guaranteed beyond this season and another $10 million will guarantee in March.
Both Mayfield and Wilson first joined the new teams on one-year prove-it deals, so the comparison seems valid. Mayfield had a 64.3 completion percentage, 7.34 adjusted net yards per attempt, 94.6 passer rating and 54.3 QBR in 2023 for Tampa. Wilson has a 64.7 completion percentage, 8.67 adjusted net yards per attempt, 103 passer rating and 55.4 QBR for the Steelers this season.
Of course, Wilson will be 37 years old next season, and would be 39 at the end of a three-year contract, while the Bucs were paying Mayfield at ages 29-31.
The Steelers will have to decide about their future of the quarterback position quickly this offseason, as none of their three passes from 2024 are under contract for 2025, with Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen all potentially free agents.
Will a three-year, $100 million deal be enough to keep Wilson in Pittsburgh? That remains to be seen. Wilson said during this week’s episode of Hard Knocks that he’s been loving playing in Pittsburgh.
