Steelers' Russell Wilson Picked To Surpass Expectations Compared To Kirk Cousins

The Pittsburgh Steelers went through a complete overhaul at quarterback during the 2024 offseason. A room that was down to only Kenny Pickett is now shared by Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen. Wilson will enter Pittsburgh's 2024 training camp as the starter, with Fields backing him up. Despite not playing a game for the Steelers, the feeling is that the quarterback position has already taken a big step forward just in the moves made.

Prior to the Steelers signing Wilson, there was a great deal of talk regarding whether it would end up being Kirk Cousins who wound up in Pittsburgh. Cousins eventually signed a huge deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Chris Simms gave his perspective on Pro Football Talk Monday, and he sees Wilson as the more likely quarterback to surpass what is expected of him.

"I'm gonna go Russell Wilson to eclipse expectations over Kirk Cousins. First off, I feel like the expectations are higher for Kirk Cousins, that's the biggest thing. And then, I feel like, with the injury, I'm a little hesitant there, right? I think people are not sure what to expect from Russell Wilson. He's certainly not the -- he's not as shiny and, like, a hut-button, oh wow, he can turn the team around type of guy right now, and Kirk Cousins is that guy, oddly enough.... But yeah, I'm gonna go with Russell Wilson, just because I feel like the bar is a little bit lower in those expectations."

The Steelers aren't under any delusion that Wilson is going to somehow revert back to his prime, but all they really need is a quarterback who won't lose games for them. With Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph, the Steelers managed 10 wins and a playoff berth. If Wilson maintains what he showed in his second and last year with the Denver Broncos, the Steelers should improve immediately.

Wilson took the Seattle Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls, helping them to a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Broncos. After the 2021 season, Wilson was traded to the Broncos in a massive move that included Denver sending the Seahawks multiple first and second-round picks, as well as players like Drew Lock and Noah Fant. The Broncos never got the kind of return they thought they would with Wilson, especially after they signed him to a $254-million extension in 2022.

The Broncos made a 180-degree turnaround following the 2023 season, eating $85 million in dead money over 2024 and 2025 for the right not to have Wilson play for them. It worked out incredibly well for the Steelers, who will pay Wilson the NFL veteran minimum of $1.2 million. With such a high-reward, low-risk move, the Steelers have to feel good about their situation heading into the 2024 campaign. With Wilson at the helm and Fields waiting in the wings, they are a far cry from only having Pickett to rely on.

Steelers Expect More With Wilson

Despite being a 2022 first-round pick, Pickett never lived up to that investment. Through his two professional seasons, he only produced 13 passing touchdowns to go with 13 interceptions. It's easy to see why Pittsburgh got an upgrade at quarterback already when you compare those statistics to Wilson. In 2023 alone, during what was considered by many to be a down year for him, Wilson passed for 26 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.

The Steelers won't have to rely on Wilson to shoulder the offense. Between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, Wilson will have a hungry, dangerous rushing attack that will take a great deal of pressure off the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. 

In Seattle, Wilson excelled with a dominant defense, and that is exactly what he has in Pittsburgh. Led by TJ Watt and 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Cameron Heyward, the Steelers are heavily invested in their defense. Wilson simply needs to manage the game and not turn the ball over, which he proved more than capable of in 2023. Even if Wilson doesn't surpass expectations, Pittsburgh should be poised for a much better year moving forward.

Will Russell Wilson be the Steelers' starting quarterback for all of 2024?