Heading into the offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers recognized the necessity to address their offense, which ranked 28th in scoring in 2023. Changes began with Mike Tomlin appointing former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator and play-caller.
Initially, there were indications that Kenny Pickett would have the opportunity to start his third season as Pittsburgh’s quarterback. However, the Steelers also entertained the idea of bringing in competition to motivate their former first-round pick. Given their new offensive coordinator’s prior experience with former Pro Bowl quarterback Ryan Tannehill during their tenure with the Titans, the 35-year-old seemed like a suitable option for the Steelers in free agency.
However, when Russell Wilson became available, plans shifted. The Steelers opted to pursue a player with nine Pro Bowl appearances rather than just one, like Tannehill. Wilson’s willingness to sign for a remarkably low rate of $1.2 million sealed the deal for Pittsburgh.
Nevertheless, had Pittsburgh failed to persuade Wilson to join Coach Tomlin, they reportedly considered other options such as Kirk Cousins, Tyler Huntley, or Ryan Tannehill. Cousins was likely out of the Steelers’ budget, especially considering his $180 million deal with the Falcons. Although Huntley subsequently signed a one-year contract worth $1.2 million with the Cleveland Browns, Tannehill remains unsigned.
If the Steelers still believed in Pickett’s potential as their franchise quarterback, they might have prioritized acquiring a veteran backup like Tannehill. However, the opportunity to add a former Super Bowl champion in Russell Wilson ultimately prevailed, even if it meant parting with the 20th pick from the 2022 NFL Draft. With the Steelers now turning to Justin Fields as Wilson’s backup, they not only secured a stronger starting quarterback but also retained a young prospect with potential to develop into a future starter.
