The Pittsburgh Steelers underwent significant changes at the quarterback position this offseason, acquiring Russell Wilson and Justin Fields while trading away Kenny Pickett. Initially, the Steelers had planned for Wilson to mentor Pickett’s development, but with Pickett’s departure, their focus has shifted to making a Super Bowl push in 2024.
General manager Omar Khan expressed surprise at the rapid changes but emphasized the team’s commitment to winning now. The decisions to acquire Wilson and Fields were made with the goal of immediate success in mind.
This sense of urgency marks a departure from the Steelers’ traditional patient approach, which has been characteristic of their long-standing stability under head coach Mike Tomlin. Earlier in the offseason, there were indications that the team was willing to invest in Pickett’s development, with reports of a positive meeting between new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Pickett.
Despite Pickett’s inconsistent performance and injury setbacks in his first two seasons, the Steelers seemed intent on keeping him in the quarterback mix for the future.
However, the acquisition of Wilson and Fields signals a shift towards prioritizing short-term success, indicating the Steelers’ readiness to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.
Kenny Pickett’s departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding his role after the team signed Russell Wilson. While the Steelers saw Wilson’s addition as a potential benefit for Pickett, hoping to ignite his performance through competition, Pickett viewed it differently.
He perceived the Steelers’ decision as a deviation from their initial plan to give him first-team reps and opted for a fresh start elsewhere rather than competing for a backup position. This led to his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles as Jalen Hurts’ backup. Interestingly, the Steelers only pursued a trade for Justin Fields after Pickett expressed his discontent.
Despite Wilson’s arrival, he didn’t seek any assurances about the starting quarterback position, although Coach Tomlin has indicated that Wilson is currently the frontrunner for the job in 2024.
