The Pittsburgh Steelers were in a unique situation this offseason, as they had the opportunity to sign a Super Bowl champion at quarterback for a veteran minimum of $1.2 million.
Russell Wilson was open to this deal because he is still owed $85 million in dead cap money from the Denver Broncos.
Analyst Andrew Fillipponi went on First Things First and went as far as to say the Wilson contract is “one of the greatest bargains in NFL history.”
“Russell Wilson is one of the greatest bargains in NFL history.”
— @ThePoniExpress on why Russ is a fit with the Steelers: pic.twitter.com/dQC19FNvni
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 16, 2024
Fillipponi highlighted how Pittsburgh’s other AFC North counterparts have quarterbacks on massive deals, with Joe Burrow ($27 million), Lamar Jackson ($30 million), and Deshaun Watson ($69 million) all making significantly more than Wilson this season.
Paying Wilson so little money allows the Steelers to splurge on defense, as Fillipponi suggests in the clip.
Nick Wright added in the clip that eight of the team’s ten highest-paid players are on defense, with the only two offensive players on that list being the guards.
Loading up on defense is always a viable strategy, but it’s fair to wonder if Pittsburgh is too one-sided at this point.
The Steelers just traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, and are currently looking at a wide receiver room featuring very little proven talent outside of George Pickens.
They just signed Van Jefferson to join Calvin Austin as the other likely starters, but they’re going to need to find more weapons for Wilson if they’re going to capitalize on this unique contract situation.
There are still quality options available in free agency, or perhaps Pittsburgh will once again strike gold with a receiver in the draft as they often tend to do.
NEXT:
Steelers Are Signing Veteran WR
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