At the beginning of the 2024 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed committed to Kenny Pickett as the quarterback for the 2024 NFL season.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said indicated that Pickett would regain the QB1 position and there were no signs of interest in the rumored big-name quarterbacks at that time.
However, the situation has changed recently.
Earlier this week, the Denver Broncos officially confirmed they would release bring back Russell Wilson more than two months after benching him.
The Steelers quickly decided they wanted to have a meeting with Wilson.
This prompted an interesting response from former star wide receiver Antonio Brown.
. In addition to posting a picture mocking the size of Pickett’s hands, Brown tweeted “Kenny Pickett must be anxious.”
Steelers' Chances of Signing Wilson Seem More Likely
The possibility of Wilson joining the Steelers became much more plausible.
Pittsburgh ultimately meeting acquired the nine-time Pro Bowler on March 8, just three days after the Broncos made their decision about his future.
They have also emerged as a clear favorite in betting odds to be Wilson’s next team.
More notably, it has recently become clearer how the Steelers could make the move work.
When the Broncos release Wilson, he will leave with $85 million guaranteed for the next two seasons and leave behind the largest dead cap hit in football history.
This presents a significant opportunity for any team seeking to acquire a veteran QB this offseason.
Whatever money he earns with his next team will not impact this situation. Instead, it will simply decrease the cap hit for the Broncos.
As a result, there is speculation report that Wilson may only seek the veteran minimum in his next deal.
So, signing Wilson should be a straightforward decision for any team looking to upgrade at QB.
Currently, the Steelers appear to be that team, but if they are, it doesn’t necessarily have to spell bad news for Pickett.
Pickett's Future Goes Beyond This Moment
Even if the Steelers do end up signing Wilson this offseason, which seems likely, it doesn’t mean Pickett is permanently ousted as the starting QB in Pittsburgh.
Regardless of the events this offseason and in the 2024 season, Pickett’s contract is still fully guaranteed for the 2025 season.
Wilson’s deal is anticipated to be affordable in 2024 and may not carry much in guarantees for the 2025 season, and unless he performs at a Pro Bowl level in 2024, Pickett will probably have the opportunity to compete in the following year.
If he fails to demonstrate readiness to be the team’s starter by then, playing for the Steelers in 2024 wouldn’t have significantly aided his career.
The issue of his fifth-year option is a concern, but that’s more of a problem for the Steelers than for him.
Moreover, this would only become an issue if Pickett played well for an extended period, which has yet to be seen in his career.
There is also the possibility that a year on the bench to learn from Wilson could actually support Pickett's development. He wouldn’t be the first late bloomer at the position.
Jordan Love became a regular starter in his fourth year, while Geno Smith spent seven years on the bench after a difficult start to his career. He has been the starting quarterback for the Seahawks for the past two years and led them to the playoffs in 2022.
Even the Steelers recently had Mason Rudolph play some of the best football of his career after being on the bench for most of the previous three years.
Even if the Steelers end up signing Wilson, Pickett will have the opportunity to bounce back after the 2024 season.
If he is unable to succeed, then the Steelers adding another quarterback was never really the thing he needed to worry about anyway.
