Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly 'intend' to sign Russell Wilson to long-term contract
The Steelers signed Russell Wilson for the veteran minimum. He will play for a cheap $1.2 million this season. But Pittsburgh plans to sign him to a longer term contract.
This is according to Gerry Dulac, who covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Dulac said that Wilson and the Steelers front office want to sign a longer-term deal, although the quarterback will be 36 midway through the season. The question is the length of the long-term deal. Wilson was 11th oldest amongst quarterbacks last season. But amongst projected starters for the upcoming season, he ranks fourth behind Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins.
Wilson spoke to the local media last Friday about his signing with the Steelers. He said then that he wanted to play for up to seven more years. But given his current contract is for only a year, Pittsburgh management may want to see how this season unfolds. Wilson has won a Super Bowl and could have earned another Lombardi Trophy if not for a late interception that set up a Tom Brady win. However, his two seasons were a struggle. He won only 11 games as a starter.
Steelers will do short-term with Justin Fields as well
The start of free agency certainly was a crazy time for the Steelers. Traditionally, Pittsburgh is conservative in its approach to March. But they did an about-face this week. First, they signed Wilson. Then the Steelers traded for Justin Fields, the former first-rounder and three-year starter from the Bears.
Plus, Pittsburgh also traded Kenny Pickett, the starter with the Steelers for the past two seasons, to the Eagles. In addition, they released Mitch Trubisky, who signed with the Bills. And then the team allowed Mason Rudolph to leave. Rudolph landed with the Titans.
The Steelers are fortunate that the Broncos owe so much money to Wilson. Denver will give him $39 million.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh needs to make a decision by May 2 on Fields. He is headed into the fourth year of his rookie contract and the team has until early May to decide on a fifth-year option. The Post Gazette says the Steelers are unlikely to pick up the fifth year by the deadline.