The Pittsburgh Steelers made several drastic changes to their quarterback room this offseason. They parted ways with all three quarterbacks who played for them in 2023 and signed veteran Russell Wilson to a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. Additionally, they traded for former Chicago Bears quarterback, Justin Fields.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Russell Wilson throws passes during OTAs as Justin Fields watches.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has stated that Wilson is expected to start, but Fields will have the chance to compete for the job. Pundits have spent the offseason debating who is the better fit to lead the Steelers' offense—Wilson or Fields. Opinions are divided, with both quarterbacks having their own strengths and weaknesses. It appears likely that Wilson will assume the starting role unless his performance is subpar.
On Wednesday's episode of Get Up, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano revealed surprising details about Wilson's contract after conducting some research.
"I was looking at his contract the other day. It's interesting. Russell Wilson actually has a no-trade clause in his Steelers contract, which is bizarre at $1.2 million. I've never seen that before, but it gives him some say in it, right?"
A no-trade clause is typically offered as a perk to a player. When the Steelers agreed to bring Wilson to the Steel City on a veteran minimum contract, they included a no-trade clause. This unusual move caught Graziano's attention, as he had never seen such a clause for a player on such a low-value contract.
Graziano then revealed that there is a possibility Wilson could be cut by the Steelers before the season even starts.
"I've been thinking that if Justin Fields wins the job in the offseason, that the likely scenario is that Russell Wilson would be cut, and they can do that, right? They're paying him $1.2 million. It's guaranteed, but people take bigger [cap] hits than that on their budgets and on their cap all the time," Graziano said. "If they get to the point and Fields is gonna be the starter, Russell can say, 'Trade me or cut me,' and then he has some control over where he goes. I think there's a lot of this story to be told. I don't think it's at all out of the question that Russell Wilson's not on the Steelers by the time the season starts."
While it is not the most likely scenario, if Wilson were to be beaten out by Fields during the offseason, he would have more control over his future than initially thought.
Getty Images
Quarterback Russell Wilson stands with his head down on the sideline during his time with the Denver Broncos.
Due to his no-trade clause, if the Steelers and Wilson cannot agree on a suitable landing spot, the Steelers might be forced to cut him. Though this outcome would be surprising, Graziano believes it is a plausible scenario.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Is Scalded By His Time With The Broncos
Wilson joins the Steelers after two underwhelming seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he failed to meet the high expectations set by his massive contract. The Broncos found his performance so disappointing that they paid him millions to part ways. Despite his struggles in Denver, Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the 2023 season before being benched for refusing to rework his contract.
Denver Broncos
Former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson talks with his Head Coach Sean Payton during a game.
Wilson was frustrated with how his tenure with the Broncos ended and is eager to come to Pittsburgh to prove he is still the elite quarterback he once was during his days with the Seattle Seahawks. Now in the later stages of his career, there are serious questions about what he can bring to an offense.
Fields faces similar questions, but he is younger and more athletic at this point in his career. The Steelers' quarterback situation will be a hot topic of debate all season. It will be interesting to see how Wilson performs with the Steelers in 2024. His no-trade clause adds an extra layer of intrigue to the situation.
