Head coach Mike Tomlin said Wilson is in "pole position" to open the 2024 season as the Steelers' starting quarterback, though Justin Fields will "have the opportunity to compete" with the nine-time Pro Bowler for the No. 1 role, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. "We've been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start," Tomlin said Sunday. "I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. He's got a proven process of readiness. He's been in this league a long time. He's just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar, and I just think that that's something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from."

EDGE Analysis

Addressing the Steelers' overhauled quarterback room for the first time following the signing of Wilson and trade acquisition of Fields earlier this month, Tomlin's comments about the situation didn't deviate much from prior reports, which suggested that Pittsburgh was viewing Wilson as its top option on the depth chart. The fact that Tomlin said that Fields will get the chance to compete for the starting role is noteworthy, though it likely would take an injury or poor showing in the offseason program and training camp for Wilson to lose the gig. Though Wilson thus should head into OTAs with some security, he's still only under contract for 2024, and his standing on the depth chart could become shakier if Pittsburgh gets off to a poor start to the season and eventually shifts into evaluation mode while a playoff berth falls out of reach.

Wilson is expected to serve as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback in 2024, even after the Steelers acquired Justin Fields from the Bears on Saturday in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Steelers acquired Fields one day after officially inking Wilson to a one-year contract, but the addition of Fields doesn't look as though it'll affect Wilson's standing as the team's projected starting quarterback during the upcoming season. As such, the 25-year-old Fields is slated to serve in a backup role to the 35-year-old Wilson, who is coming off a pair of underwhelming campaigns with Denver. The acquisition of Fields could still influence Pittsburgh's quarterback plans beyond 2024, and at a minimum, the Steelers would have a talented and experienced signal-caller waiting in the wings should Wilson suffer an injury or struggle early on in the season to ignite the team's passing game.

The Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles a few hours after Wilson signed his one-year contract with Pittsburgh, ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move leaves Wilson as Pittsburgh's only QB under contract, at least temporarily. Pickett reportedly expressed displeasure with the decision to sign Wilson, likely figuring he'd be a long shot to beat out the 35-year-old for a starting job. Wilson was a strong favorite for the Week 1 start even with Pickett on the team, and none of the available free agents would seem to pose any threat to Wilson's standing atop the depth chart if signed. The only potential hurdles at this point are a trade for Justin Fields or an early draft pick coming in at the position -- and even in those scenarios Wilson would still have a good chance to make the Week 1 start.

The Steelers signed Wilson to a one-year contract Friday, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wilson was officially released by the Broncos on Wednesday with a post-June 1 designation, paving the way for the 35-year-old to ink a deal with Pittsburgh on Friday. With Mason Rudolph having signed on with the Titans, Wilson and 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett are currently the only two signal-callers on the Steelers' roster. The two are thus in line to compete for the team's starting job in the coming months, though at this stage, Wilson profiles as the favorite to land the assignment, per Mike DeFabo of the Athletic. Meanwhile, in the wake of the departures of Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson, the pass-catching duo of WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth, along with RB Jaylen Warren, are Pittsburgh's top returning pass-catching options.

Wilson plans to sign a one-year contract with the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to Schefter, it will be a "team-friendly" deal, with the Broncos being on the hook for most of his $38 million salary in 2024. Wilson still hasn't even officially been released by Denver, but it sounds like he's already found his new team. The move should become official when the new league year opens Wednesday afternoon. In Pittsburgh, Wilson will link up with new OC Arthur Smith and be the heavy favorite to open the 2024 season as the Steelers' starter over 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. For fantasy purposes, it's not a great landing spot in Smith's run-centric, methodical offense, but Wilson should be viewed as an upgrade over Pickett. Wilson's insertion does boost the fantasy stocks of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth.

Wilson is traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday to meet with the Steelers' front office and head coach Mike Tomlin, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wilson has permission to meet with other teams but can't technically sign a contract until the Broncos release him at the start of the league year (Wednesday). Multiple Pittsburgh beat writers have suggested the Steelers want to give 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett another shot as the starting quarterback, but most of what we've seen from Pickett suggests that even this post-prime version of Wilson would give the team a better chance to win in 2024. An offset in Wilson's Denver contract means he has no incentive to maximize his 2024 pay from a new team, so he'll likely choose his next destination based on some combination of likelihood to start, chances of making a playoff run and post-2024 compensation. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Wilson already had an "exploratory meeting" with the Giants earlier this week.

The Steelers are "tentatively planning" to meet with Wilson before the start of free agency, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Broncos have given Wilson permission to talk with other teams even though he won't be released until March 13, the start of the 2024 league year. While previous reports out of Pittsburgh suggested the Steelers were ready to move forward with Kenny Pickett and maybe Mason Rudolph as their quarterbacks, the upcoming meeting with Wilson suggests there's at least some level of interest in bringing in a new starter. The decision may end up coming down to financials more so than confidence (or lack thereof) in Pickett. If nothing gets done in Pittsburgh, other potential suitors for Wilson could include the Raiders and Falcons.

Denver announced Monday that Wilson has been informed he will be released by the team after the NFL's new league year begins March 13.

EDGE Analysis

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Wilson's release will save the Broncos an extra $37 million in guaranteed money, while Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com notes that the team will still need to endure an NFL-record $85 million in dead cap over the next two years. Those financial ramifications highlight the extent to which Wilson's two-year stint in Denver was characterized by disappointment. The veteran ended the 2023 campaign with 297 completions on 447 pass attempts for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games, numbers which may have seemed merely mediocre were it not for his sizable salary compensation and the valuable draft picks the Broncos parted ways with for his acquisition from Seattle. When free agency officially begins, Wilson will get a chance to search for a fresh start elsewhere, while coach Sean Payton and Denver once again will have to start anew at the quarterback position.

Coach Sean Payton said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that a decision on Wilson's future with the Broncos will come "in the next two weeks," Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Wilson may realistically be released before the start of the new league year March 13, but Payton's comments suggest that a decision on the veteran's future in Denver won't come down to the wire of that deadline. If Wilson is released, the Broncos will eat a massive $85 million dead-money cap hit, but the size of his contract likely eliminates the possibility of a trade. Payton also referenced the Broncos' recent history of QB woes, stating "our job is to make sure this next one doesn't have a line through it," per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. While it doesn't seem like a final decision of Wilson's future has yet been made, the fact that Payton is already thinking about the "next one" under center could be read as a strong hint that the former Seahawk's release is imminent.

Wilson is expected to be released by the Broncos before the new league year begins in March, but no final decision has been made, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

In just his second year in Denver, it appears likely that Wilson and the Broncos are headed towards a split. According to Legwold, the veteran quarterback's potential release would result in an $85 million dead money charge for the Broncos, the largest for a single player since the salary cap was instituted. Despite the sense that Wilson will be released, Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com reports that head coach Sean Payton asserts that a decision on Wilson has not been made, but it won't be drawn out. According to Stevens, general manager George Paton went as far to say "the door is open" for the 35-year-old signal caller to return. Wilson finished the 2023 campaign completing 297 of 447 pases for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 15 games. In addition, he was use more as a rusher this season, rushing 80 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the season was a step in the right direction for the Broncos offense after a disappointing start to Wilson's time in Denver in 2022. His potential for future fantasy success hinges on him finding a fitting landing spot on a team in need of experienced quarterback play.