Steelers sign Wilson for veteran’s minimum
Russell Wilson is heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers on a frantic first day of NFL free agency.
Wilson, 35, will get the veteran’s minimum of $1.21 million (U.S.) from Pittsburgh, while the Denver Broncos pay the rest of his $39million salary. He was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after a trade from Seattle. He bounced back from a dreadful 2022 season and threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, but still lost his job to Jarrett Stidham after going 7-8 in coach Sean Payton’s first season.
Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons. The Steelers, meanwhile, lost a wild-card playoff game with Mason Rudolph as their starting quarterback.
Pittsburgh is slated to play the Broncos in Denver this coming season. The schedule will be released in May. Last week, the Broncos told Wilson they’d release him when the new league year begins Wednesday, but gave him permission to speak to other teams.
After signing an extension worth nearly a quarter of a billion dollars before playing a down in Denver, Wilson contended the Broncos had threatened to bench him for the final nine games last season if he didn’t push back the $37-million injury guarantee in his contract. Wilson declined and started seven more games before he was benched in what Payton insisted was a football move.
The move also comes less than two weeks after Steelers GM Omar Khan said the team had “full faith” in Kenny Pickett at quarterback.
Falcons
Quarterback Kirk Cousins is leaving the Minnesota Vikings after agreeing to a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. According to ESPN, the deal is worth up to $180 million with $100 million guaranteed. Atlanta had a glaring need at quarterback after cycling through Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder last season, and Cousins’ wife, Julie, grew up in the area. After playing on consecutive franchise tags for Washington in 2016 and 2017, Cousins cashed in as the rare starting quarterback to hit free agency in 2018, when the Vikings had salary-cap space and a pressing need at the position after an NFC championship game appearance. He got the first fully guaranteed, multi-year contract in league history for a quarterback, worth $84 million.
Patriots
One day after trading quarterback Mac Jones to Jacksonville, the New England Patriots signed passer Jacoby Brissett to a one-year deal worth $8 million, ESPN reported. Brissett, who started his career with the Patriots in 2016, backed up Sam Howell in Washington last season.
Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles decided Saquon Barkley was the rare running back they were willing to make a financial splash on. Barkley, long the face of the rival New York Giants, agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $37.75 million with $26 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars and former Buffalo Bills receiver Gabe Davis agreed to a three-year, $39-million contract that could be worth up to $50 million with incentives. Davis will replace Calvin Ridley, expected to be one of the top targets on the free-agent market.
Chiefs
The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs re-signed all-pro defensive tackle Chris Jones for $158.75 million over five years, with $95 million guaranteed over the first three seasons.