The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the offseason rumor mill when it comes to adding a quarterback (or two) to the roster for 2024. The team currently only has Kenny Pickett under contract after the release of Mitch Trubisky. Mason Rudolph is a pending free agent and may want to try his luck somewhere else after he played the best football in his career down the stretch in the 2023 season. Since Pickett hasn’t fully risen to the level many would like to see from a starting quarterback at the pro level and comments from Head Coach Mike Tomlin about bringing in competition, Pittsburgh has been a hot rumored destination for a couple of different signal-callers.

Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson is likely getting released by the Denver Broncos. He has some connections to the Steelers, and some in the media believe those connections will bring him to Pittsburgh for the 2024 season. Some people, like veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott, think it would be a terrific addition. Others, like former star receiver Steve Smith, don’t see it.

The topic was raised on a recent episode of 2 Pro And A Cup Of Joe, and former NFL linebacker LaVar Arlington was not in favor of the move.

“I know Pittsburgh very well,” he said. “I grew up there. I learned how life is lived as a Pittsburgher. I don’t know that Russell Wilson would be a fit for Pittsburgh. We’re just prideful on being hard-nosed, tough, regular dudes. He’s soft.”

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback tried to push back on Arlington’s assessment that he wouldn’t fit in Pittsburgh. Co-host Jonas Knox joined in on defending Wilson from the soft tag by saying he played at Wisconsin in his final collegiate season before the Seattle Seahawks drafted him. Arlington wasn’t hearing any of it.

“That was before he was a star though,” he said. “He was still hungry when he was that guy at Wisconsin and went to Seattle. He’s not what he is now. He’s like a superstar. He’s married to this amazing performer. He’s a different dude. He’s evolved and I don’t know that his evolution would fit in a place like Pittsburgh.”

He did relent that he does see Wilson as an upgrade in talent at the quarterback position if the Steelers were to bring him in. Wilson had a disastrous first season in Denver under Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett, throwing 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as the team finished 5-12.

While his passing yards dropped from 3,524 to 3,070 in the 2023 season under Sean Payton, he improved his touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio with 26 scores and eight picks.

Steelers’ Decision At Quarterback Will Reveal The Organization’s Feelings On Pickett

Whatever route the Steelers decide to take to fill the openings at quarterback on the roster, Quinn thinks their decision will show how much of a leash Pickett is going to get to prove in his third year that he can be the starter. Quinn, who never lived up to his status as a first-round quarterback for the Browns, doesn’t think Pittsburgh gave enough support to Pickett, particularly because they held onto Matt Canada too long.

Quinn is of two minds on how Pittsburgh handled things at the end of the season. He thinks that riding with Rudolph during the home stretch of the season either means that the organization has somewhat given up on Pickett or that he was more injured than it was initially reported.

“It’s hard to anticipate what’s going to happen but we will know this,” he said. “Whoever they bring in will give us a surefire tell as to what that ultimately means for Kenny Pickett. If it’s Russell Wilson, it’s over.”

The roller coaster of rumors won’t end until the team makes their additions at quarterback, whether in the draft or free agency. Who that will be is one of the biggest questions facing Omar Khan and company as the offseason truly gets into full swing.

Do you agree that Wilson would be a bad personality fit in Pittsburgh? Who is your favorite quarterback option for the Steelers?