Pittsburgh Steelers expected to meet with Russell Wilson

The Steelers are testing the quarterback free agency market, with plans to meet with Russell Wilson.

This is according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Gerry Dulac shared on Twitter that Wilson also has interest in the Steelers.

Wilson had been with the Denver Broncos the last two seasons. But the Broncos already indicated they will release him.

Steelers are interested in signing Russell Wilson and are tentatively planning to meet with the former Broncos QB before start of free agency, per sources. Wilson has interest in joining Steelers. Story in PG forthcoming.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 7, 2024

The Broncos confirmed earlier this week that they will be releasing Wilson. It is imminent. However, Denver also gave him permission to speak with other teams.

The Steelers starting quarterback has been Kenny Pickett, whom they drafted in 2022. But Pickett and the Steelers offense struggled last season. Coach Mike Tomlin fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada midway through the season. Then Pickett missed the final five games with an ankle injury. Mason Rudolph led Pittsburgh to the first round of the playoffs. He will be an unrestricted free agent but has indicated he would stick with the Steelers if guaranteed a chance for the starting job.

Since the season ended, Tomlin hired Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Falcons, as the new offensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, the Broncos acquisition of Wilson two years ago may go down as one of the worst trades in NFL history. Denver sent the Seahawks five draft picks, including a pair of first rounders and two first-second rounders, in addition to three players. The Broncos agreed to giving Wilson a guaranteed $242.6 million contract. He won 11 games in two seasons.

Denver wanted Wilson to rework a $37 million injury clause. The quarterback refused. So coach Sean Payton benched Wilson with two games remaining in the regular season.

The Steelers will be interested in Wilson because before he signed in Denver, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, with one Super Bowl win and a dramatic loss in the big game to Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Sources told the Post-Gazette that the Steelers plan to meet with Wilson before the start of the free agency period, which starts next Wednesday. The Post-Gazette also reported that Wilson is speaking with at least one other team.

The Broncos are on the hook to pay Wilson $85 million over the next two years. So any team who signs Wilson will get an experienced quarterback for a possibly bargain price. The Steelers have room for another quarterback. They released Mitch Trubisky, who agreed to terms with the Bills this week.