A new report on Russell Wilsonโs market in free agency is worrisome for the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2024 season. The Steelers signed Wilson as their quarterback for the 2024 season.
The Steelers made a bold choice to trade away Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. With Pickett in Philadelphia, the Steelersย traded the Chicago Bearsย a conditional sixth-round for Justin Fields. Fields will be Wilsonโs backup in the upcoming season.
Wilson could have easily been a backup on another team. Per Jeff Howe withย The Athletic, the New York Giants didnโt value Wilson as highly as the Steelers did this offseason. Giants head coach Brian Dabollย thought Wilsonย would fit in as a backup with New York:
Thereโs a pattern here, too. The Giants had an exploratory meeting last week withย Russell Wilson, and the team didnโt make any promises about playing time, according to league sources. Thatโs been the Giantsโ approach as theyโve built toward the 2024 season with Jones as the expected starter.
Wilson wasnโt initially given the Pittsburgh Steelers QB1 job
Per Albert Breer withย Sports Illustrated, the Steelers initially thought Wilson would have toย compete for the starting job when they signed him last week.
On Saturday night before the legal tampering period kicked off, Tomlin told Pickett that he wasnโt sure if the team would land Wilson, but if it happened, thereโd be an open competition for the job. Pickett said he was fine with that. Wilson agreed to terms Sunday. On Monday, Tomlin told Pickett that Wilson would work from pole position to start, and get the first reps at the beginning of OTAs, with Pickett competing from there.
Wilson hadnโt been given any assurance to be the starter (or really much of anything else). But you can see how Pickettโs first two years as a pro affected how he saw what Tomlin was telling him. His guard was up. He felt misled, based on conversations less than 48 hours apart from each other. Which is why he ended up asking for a trade. You can assign blame on that to whoever you want.

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