When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason to a one-year, $1.2 million contract, it was seen as a low-cost, low-risk move to address a position that's been in flux since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season.
Even though Wilson brought an impressive resume that includes a Super Bowl ring and nine Pro Bowl nods, it was fair to wonder what he would be at 36 years old following two tumultuous seasons with the Denver Broncos. After all, coach Sean Payton, who many consider a respected offensive mind, decided it was best for the organization to pay Wilson nearly $38 million not to play for the Broncos. It even appeared the Steelers themselves wanted a good backup plan, as they traded a conditional sixth-round pick to acquire Justin Fields.
Seven games into the Wilson era in Pittsburgh, the veteran quarterback has been more than just an upgrade over the 2023 QB room of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky. He's been a revelation.
Although Wilson's mobility has declined a bit, he still can move well enough to create outside of structure -- something that's been a staple of his game throughout his career. His experience has allowed the Steelers to check into the right plays at the line of scrimmage. His veteran experience has added an intangible element that has benefited a young (and sometimes immature) offense. And that deep ball? Yeah, Wilson can definitely still sling it, unlocking the outsized potential of George Pickens.
Wilson is one of the best bargains in football, thanks in large part to the Broncos footing $37.8 million of the bill. What once seemed like a possible bridge to a longer-term solution might become more than that for the Steelers.
However, if they intend to sign Wilson to an extension this offseason, it won't come cheap. They have set a precedent of not negotiating extensions in-season, but before long, they'll need to make some tough decisions. Wilson, who turned 36 in November, said when he joined the Steelers that he hoped to play another five or six seasons. How many of those could be in Pittsburgh?
Let's take a look at what Wilson could command on the open market and what it means for the future of the organization. (All salary figures courtesy of Over the Cap.)
Wilson has earned $304.1 million in his 13-year career. Historically, he's preferred shorter contracts that allow him to negotiate his next deal sooner to capitalize on a booming market. Often, he has commanded top dollar at his position.
2012: As a third-round pick, Wilson's rookie contract was worth just under $3 million over four years.
2015: Wilson signed a four-year, $87.6 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks that included a $31 million signing bonus, $61.5 million in guaranteed money. The average annual salary of $21.9 million ranked second in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers ($22 million).
2019: Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Seahawks with a $65 million signing bonus and $107 million guaranteed. The deal set new benchmarks in many areas, including annual average ($35 million), guaranteed money and signing bonus.
2022: After being traded to Denver (and before playing a game with the Broncos), Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million deal that included a $50 million signing bonus and $161 million in guaranteed money (covering the first three seasons: 2022, 2023, 2024). The average annual salary of $48.5 million ranked second behind Rodgers.
This season, four quarterbacks in a similar age bracket are enjoying big-money deals, including two who signed those deals as free agents, as Wilson is set to be. These contracts provide a rough framework for what Wilson could garner after his bounce-back season.
Cousins, who is three months and 10 days older than Wilson, might be the closest comp. He played on a one-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 for $35 million, tore his Achilles tendon midway through the season and then inked a big free-agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons in March. The four-year, $180 million contract ($45 million average) included a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million in guaranteed money.
After being traded from the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2023 season, Rodgers took a pay cut of about $35 million by signing a revised three-year, $112.5 million contract ($37.5 million average) with the New York Jets, four months ahead of his 40th birthday. The deal included $75 million in guaranteed money.
In March 2022, a little over a month after winning the Super Bowl, a 34-year-old Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million contract ($40 million average) with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $60 million signing bonus and $120 million in guaranteed money. The sides restructured the deal before the 2024 season, altering guarantees but not changing the overall value.
After being released by the Las Vegas Raiders, a 32-year-old Carr signed a four-year, $150 million deal ($37.5 million average) with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent. It included a $28.5 million signing bonus and $100 million in guarantees.
The stats suggest that Wilson has played on-par, or, in many cases, much better than the other four veterans in their mid-30s or early 40s.
QBR -- Wilson's QBR this season is 56.7, which ranks 19th among eligible quarterbacks. That's ahead of Cousins (56.3, 20th) and Rodgers (51.4, 25th) but behind Stafford (65.6, eighth) and Carr (63.3, 13th). His numbers have been hurt by inconsistent red zone performances. Over the final stretch, he's likely to improve in this department and bolster his QBR.
Passer rating -- Wilson's passer rating of 103.9 ranks sixth in the NFL, the best of any of these. Carr is 10th (101.0), followed by Stafford (96.8, 14th), Cousins (89.0, 19th) and Rodgers (88.9, 20th).
Passing yards/game -- Wilson is averaging 254.9 passing yards per game, which ranks sixth. Cousins (261.2, fourth) and Stafford (254.1, seventh) are neck and neck with the Steelers QB. Rodgers (228.2, 17th) and Carr (214.5, 21st) are in the middle of the pack.
Touchdowns/interceptions -- Wilson has protected the ball well throughout his career, so it's no surprise to see he ranks sixth in this category with 4.0 touchdowns for every interception. That's ahead of Carr (3.0, ninth), Stafford (2.7, 11th) and Rodgers (2.5, 12th).
Yards/attempt -- Wilson ranks fifth with 8.4 yards per attempt. That's better than Cousins (7.8, eighth), Carr (7.7, 11th), Stafford (7.5, 15th) and Rodgers (6.5, 29th)
The Steelers learned a hard lesson about what a team can look like without a solid quarterback commanding the offense. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, they wasted part of Cameron Heyward's, T.J. Watt's and Minkah Fitzpatrick's primes, as the defense lugged an anemic offense to a winning record.
That championship-caliber defense is now aging. Fitzpatrick is 28, Watt is 30 and Heyward is 35. At this point, the Steelers risk wasting a defense that the organization spent years building.
The best chance for Pittsburgh to win in the current window is with a veteran like Wilson.
Ahead of the season, Wilson posted a picture on Instagram with the caption "Legacy." He's already begun to make his case for the Hall of Fame during his first 13 seasons. Taking a storied franchise like the Steelers on a couple deep postseason runs would further cement his place in the game.
As this season has shown, Wilson has been the missing piece to what was otherwise a pretty complete roster. There should be a level of optimism that the Steelers continue to build upon the foundation they've already established. Only two starters, cornerback Donte Jackson and inside linebacker Elandon Roberts, are not under contract in 2025. Given the star power coming back, it's reasonable to expect that if Wilson returns, he would be in a similar situation with a stout defense to support him.
Offensively, the Steelers should continue to improve on the ground, helping take the pressure off of Wilson and setting up his moonball. The young, talented offensive line will likely only continue to improve with time and with the return of 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu, who was lost for the regular season with a knee injury. The biggest questions on that side of the ball are what to do with running back Najee Harris, who will be a free agent, and receiver George Pickens, who will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2025 and eligible for an extension.
If Wilson is serious about winning, this might be his best chance.
While Wilson has largely outperformed the other quarterbacks in his age group, those other passers haven't necessarily lit the world on fire. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt, Jets owner Woody Johnson suggested benching Rodgers earlier this year. Who knows where that marriage will lead this offseason. Many in Atlanta are wondering how soon the Falcons will pivot from Cousins to rookie Michael Penix Jr. Carr just sustained a fractured hand. As quarterbacks age, injury risk becomes more real, as was shown with Cousins last season and Wilson the start of this one.
At some point, even the game's greats decline. If the Steelers make Wilson the highest-paid player on the roster, they'll need to hope that the QB can fight back father time as he approaches age 40.
Pittsburgh must also consider Wilson's down years in Denver and his relatively small sample size with the Steelers. Have they seen enough to merit a contract with multiple years of guaranteed money? Are they confident he can continue to play at this level, perhaps even without Arthur Smith if the coordinator draws head-coaching interest?
While the Steelers might want to minimize risk with a shorter deal, the market says Wilson could command a three or four-year contract with an annual average in the $40-$45 million range -- maybe even more, if money is his biggest motivator.
Perhaps Wilson would realize he's already made more than $300 million in his career and that winning is worth more at this stage than another hefty contract. However, for players, salaries are often a sign of respect. The Steelers shouldn't be counting on Wilson taking a huge hometown discount in a city in which he hasn't even spent a whole year. If the Steelers want a veteran QB with a Super Bowl resume, there's a cost to doing business.