Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson is in the midst of a career renaissance, and the impending free agent recently spoke about his immediate future. Following a disastrous two-year run with the Denver Broncos, Wilson landed with the Steelers on a cheap one-year deal while Denver paid his salary. While injuries sidelined Wilson early in the season, he has played as well as could be expected when on the field. Going 6-2 in his eight starts, Wilson has completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,912 yards (8.1 yards per attempt), 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Wilson hasn’t recaptured his Seahawks form, but the 13-year veteran proved he is still a starting-caliber quarterback. With not enough good quarterbacks to go around and a weak 2025 NFL Draft class, Wilson should cash in on the open market, but he’s hoping to remain in Pittsburgh. During the latest episode of Hard Knocks, a child asked Wilson if he plans on staying with the Steelers, and his response left no doubt about his feelings towards his current team.
“Yeah, I love it. It’s awesome. Hopefully [I’ll re-sign], I love it here. It’s cool. Hopefully, we’re going to win the Super Bowl.”
Steelers Russell Wilson Speaks on Preferred Free Agent Destination
It’s easy to see why Russell Wilson wants to stay with the Steelers. At 10-4, the Steelers currently sit atop the AFC North, and Wilson’s play is a big reason for that success. Head coach Mike Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in football and knows how to get the most out of his players. After not fitting in with Broncos head coaches Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton, Wilson should appreciate an environment that fosters his unique style of play.
However, Wilson could still leave. Currently playing in his age-36 season, this could be the quarterback’s last chance to earn a major payday on the open market. Wilson played well in Pittsburgh, but would the Steelers be willing to outbid the open market for Wilson’s services? Mike Tomlin can win games with a quarterback like Justin Fields, so if a team like the New Orleans Saints is willing to outspend the competition, Wilson could have a new home in 2025.
Saints Dark Horse Suitors?
The Dennis Allen Era is over in New Orleans, which means the team will have a new head coach in 2025. Depending on who they hire, the new leader of the organization could make a change at the quarterback position. Parting ways with Derek Carr would be difficult from a financial standpoint, but nobody is better at manipulating the salary cap than General Manager Mickey Loomis. Carr is a fine quarterback, but his style of play doesn’t excite the masses and he lacks the upside to carry a flawed roster to the postseason.
The present-day version of Russell Wilson won’t drag a team to the Super Bowl, but he could be an upgrade on Carr, depending on the scheme. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is reportedly receiving head coaching interest and could easily land in New Orleans. While the Saints would probably prefer someone like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, they might have to settle for a coach of Smith’s caliber. They aren’t the most attractive destination, but signing Russell Wilson as a free agent could help turn the organization around.
Main Photo: Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports
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