Russell Wilson is headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday night.
Associated Press sources said Wilson will receive the veteran’s minimum salary of $1.21 million, with the Denver Broncos paying the remainder of his $39 million salary.
Wilson posted his intentions on the X, saying: “Grade 13. Grateful. Steelers.”
The 35-year-old was acquired from Seattle in a trade and compiled an 11-19 record in two seasons with the Broncos. He bounced back from a poor 2022 season, throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, but went 7-8 in head coach Sean Payton’s first season last year After his performance, he still lost his job to Jarrett Stidham.
Wilson led the Seattle Seahawks to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons.
The Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game last season with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback. Rudolph replaced Kenny Pickett, who went down with an injury and had a 7-5 record. Mitch Trubisky started the other two games and went 0-2.
The Steelers are scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver this upcoming season, a game in which Wilson could return. The NFL is expected to release the league schedule in May.
The Broncos informed Wilson last week that they would release him when the new season begins on Wednesday but allowed him to talk to other teams.
The Broncos posted on their social media channels last week: “We appreciate Russell’s contribution and dedication to our team and community, and wish him the best in his career.” Get better through the draft and free agency flexibility. “
Wilson, who signed a nearly $2.5 billion contract extension before playing a single game in Denver, claims the Broncos threatened to let him go if he didn’t defer the $37 million in injury protection in his contract. On the bench for the final nine games of last season. .
Wilson refused to adjust his deal and started seven more games before he was benched, a move Payton insisted was a football rather than financial one.
Acquiring Wilson on the cheap gives Pittsburgh plenty of flexibility in free agency as they can address the offensive and defensive line positions as well as the secondary and inside linebacker positions. The team has cut several players in recent weeks, namely veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson and center Mason Cole, to create more flexibility, and Wilson’s arrival marks the team’s first move since Franco Harry. Stuttgart’s longest postseason victory drought since the “perfect reception” was a positive one. More than fifty years ago.
Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, will remain quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the near future after agreeing to a three-year deal worth up to $115 million.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Mayfield will receive $30 million in 2024, $30 million in 2025, and $20 million guaranteed in the second year of the deal. The quarterback’s salary will increase to $40 million by 2026, the newspaper said.
Mayfield, who has played for four teams over the past three seasons, joined the Buccaneers on a one-year deal after Tom Brady retired and resumed his career in 2023. Mayfield led the team to its third consecutive NFC South title.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft put up a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while cutting back on costly mistakes from previous spells with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. mistake. Mayfield and Dak Prescott were the only NFL quarterbacks to throw at least 28 touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions last season.
Mayfield agreed to terms two days after Tampa Bay finalized a two-year, $52 million deal with star receiver Mike Evans and Evans gave up on testing his worth in free agency. Opportunity. Evans had his 10th consecutive 1,000-yard season and tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead with 13 touchdowns.
