|
As a Steelers' fan, I am pretty pleased with he two transactions together (three really, when you consider jettisoning Pickett).
The QB room needed a makeover because it was terrible. They collectively have only had 25 passing TDs over the past two seasons (and one was thrown by Chase Claypool of all people!). People can say Pickett never had a chance, but he was billed as a high floor/'low' ceiling first rounder that was already 24 years old in his rookie season. He got 24 starts, with some pretty solid offensive skill players, and had one game with a passer rating over 100 and only four with a rating over 90 (there were 18 QBs last year that averaged higher than 90 and 6 that averaged over 100).
Wilson at a minimum salary and no compensation was a no brainer, since Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph had already left the team. Whether as a starter or backup, they needed bodies and there is little risk there.
With Fields, I don't think anyone is under the illusion that he is more than he is or that the Steelers got a steal. With that fifth year option lingering and making him have essentially a one-year deal, with the hope that he and the team work together well enough to see some signs of development. The hope is that the year together makes it worthwhile enough to stick, but not so much that he gets really good and leaves or forces their hand with a bigger deal.
Now, with 4 top 100 picks, I assume they will either take another QB to develop or sign another veteran QB (Tannehill? Would've liked Huntley at the right price, but he just signed), and treat Fields as the developmental QB without the pressure of him needing to work out.
At worst, they continue to have shitty QB play and are around .500 with their defense and run game and the only sacrifice is that they don't have a 26-year old, Pickett with the risk of him showing just enough to make them question the decision on his fifth year option next offseason.
So, unless Pickett were to inexplicably breakout in a huge way this season, they are likely looking at a QB reboot in 2025 anyway. This way, they may catch something with Wilson for the next few years (coinciding with prime TJ Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick) or Fields (unlikely) or they start over from scratch anyway.
|