Russell Wilson next NFL team odds: Steelers now favorites for likely soon-to-be released Broncos quarterback
Will Russell Wilson be a Pittsburgh Steeler next season?
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Last week, DraftKings had updated odds of -120 for Chicago's Justin Fields to be a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 of this coming NFL season among his next team options. The site now has Denver's Russell Wilson at -110 to be with the Steelers come Week 1. Needless to say, Pittsburgh all but surely won't be acquiring both. and it could be neither, but the books have no downside for posting props like these.
While Fields may cost as much as a second-round pick if Pittsburgh wanted to go that route, Wilson might only cost a bit of money as the Broncos are expected to release him (if they can't find a trade partner) on or before March 17, when his 2025 base salary of $37 million becomes fully guaranteed. His $39 million compensation for 2024 is already fully guaranteed, so Wilson can take a small salary in hopes of landing on a Super Bowl contender should he choose. The Steelers don't exactly fit that descriptor, as they're +6600 to win Super Bowl 59. (I personally think Wilson ends up in Las Vegas.)
While there has been some noise out of Denver about the team keeping Wilson, you don't bench a player of his stature late in a season, demand that he take a pay cut and then bring him back. It just doesn't work that way. Additionally, Wilson's Cherry Hills Village mansion is for sale. He and his wife, Ciara, bought the home when he was traded from the Seahawks to the Broncos in 2022 and paid $25 million, apparently a record for that area.
The only quarterback currently on the Pittsburgh roster is Kenny Pickett, but he essentially lost his starting job to Mason Rudolph late last season. Rudolph led the team to three straight wins to get a wild card spot but struggled in the playoff loss in Buffalo. Rudolph is a free agent, but there is reportedly a big chunk of the locker room that prefers him to Pickett, so he will likely be re-signed.
Steelers 2023 QBs As Starters (Regular Season)
Stat | Kenny Pickett | Mason Rudolph |
W-L | 7-5 | 3-0 |
Comp. % | 62.0% | 74.6%** |
Yds/Att | 6.4 | 10.1** |
Passer Rtg | 81.4 | 120.4** |
Team PPG | 16.0 | 27.0 |
** - Best in NFL (min. 70 pass attempts in starts)
Coach Mike Tomlin has made it clear the team is bringing in competition for the former first-rounder Pickett at a minimum. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the team is "not interested in bringing in a quarterback who wants to be a starter." Wilson will not be signing with a team like that. Fields wouldn't have a choice in a trade. It could be that the Steelers eschew both and look at someone like Ryan Tannehill, who likely wouldn't upend the locker room by being a backup.
What will Denver do presuming it dumps Wilson? FanDuel offers odds on which team selects a certain player in this year's draft and the Broncos are +300 favorites to be the club that takes Oregon QB Bo Nix. They are +600 second-favorites for Michigan's JJ McCarthy and +900 for Washington's Michael Penix. Denver is currently set to pick 12th in Round 1 and the top three QB prospects -- Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels -- should all be long gone by then.
Via DraftKings: Which team will Russell Wilson be on in Week 1 of the 2024 season?
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