Two games left to salvage something. If Russ doesn't step up against KC, time to consider moving on in 2025. Great story, but dropped KP8 and got Russ to get better, not to stay where we are.
hes got to. (Need to get the DB’s and Pickens back). If they lose to KC does the cincy game even matter? And true, they could've gone one and out with Mason Rudolph at the helm as they did last year.Originally Posted by Edman
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Let's see what happens but the passing game is definitely still better than last year with worse receivers. Still think we bring Russ back unless he wants a ridiculous amount or number of years; and/or the Steelers really believe Justin can be the guy. Otherwise, what are the options?
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Options are always limited when it comes to an NFL QB.
Just my own opinion, I would bring Russ back. Yes, I would overpay but it would still have to be reasonable for the team. I still believe Russ is the best option out there. Fields would get the option to come back as backup to Russ on a long term deal that allows him to potentially become the starter. I would also draft a QB in 2025.
We also need to find a RB for next season. Draft, FA, both?
DL must be addressed. And never stop adding to the LB room and secondary.
If you try to sit still you will fall behind.
If Steelers go out in first playoff game and Russ doesn’t play well time to move on. 1.25 mill is one thing but paying him 30 million at 37 is Deja vu all over again. Kicking can down road. Start Fields and draft QB like Allar in round 2. If he wins playoff game and plays great then you have a tougher decision. It’s all predicated on playoff performance IMO.
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That is an option. Except I heard on the radio(whatever that's worth) Allar already decide to return to PSU for another season.
The problem with putting everything on the playoffs is that we are already short several key players that will limit us on what we can do in the playoffs. If we lose because our secondary got picked on due to all the injuries, how does that reflect on Russ? Having to play catch up and needing to throw more usually results in mistakes and TOs. Is that on the QB, OC, or just the situation? My main point on re-signing Russ and even to the extent of over-paying, is he is still the best option available. Not the only option, but he is the best option. I guess maybe call him the least of a gamble of the options.
Draft picks are the biggest gamble. You can never truly know what you have until year 3.
Justin Fields did well enough when he was starter that many of us were reluctant to switch to Russ during the season. BUT, once the switch was made we saw clearly the limitations we had with Fields.
Re-signing Russ has to be option #1, IMO.
Allar has already declared he is returning to Penn St for his senior season.
QB is the X factor in football, every team in the conversation for SB contention has a great QB. The Steelers allowed BEN to dictate what happened post Ben and they didn't address QB until it was too late. The Steelers are regularly in a poor position draft wise to adequately draft a true franchise QB. Wilson gave the Steelers the opportunity to compete but hasn't lived up to expectations especially in the red zone. If the Steelers want to catch up with the true contenders it may be time to trade up or trade away a star player to get in position to draft the next QB.
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You not willing to give Russ a 2nd season in Smith's offense, and with an improved 2nd year OL? I think it would be foolish of us to just dismiss that.
I would rather give Fields a season under Smith and a improved OL. Let's get younger and see whats in the draft instead of sticking with a 37 year old QB that lost a lot of his ability he once had when he was younger.
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While I agree a younger Russ is better than an aged Russ, I'm not sure a young Fields is better than an aged Russ. An NFL QB needs much more than speed and mobility. He has to be able to see the field better than what Fields has shown. I'm not necessarily against what you are saying. I just think 37 year old Russ is the better QB.
The Steelers should bring Russ back but as a mentor to a young QB. At 37 the window is rapidly closing and I wouldn't be willing to imagine Fields is in any way the answer
I think Wilson has totally lived up to expectations.
It depends on your expectations.
A slightly better version than was last seen in Denver? That’s been met or exceeded. The prime guy from his Seattle salad days? Yeah, that’s not been met.
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You are correct QB is the X factor. However, the thing that bad teams do all the time is reach for X factor when it's not there. I'm no expert on the draft but from what I read it is not there this year. As for trading away star players, I'm sure you know that is not going to happen unless you are planning a hostile takeover of the team. There is no chance that Rooney would trade away star power (TJ, Minka?) and tell Tomlin good luck. And we know Tomlin is not going anywhere.
This is the risk of making a sudden QB change. You better make sure what you're getting is an upgrade, because if he's not all that, you just wasted a year, and you have no solution at the position. Russell Wilson has had his moments, but he's been overall okay. But we didn't move on from Kenny Pickett to be "okay". The prevailing narrative throughout 2023 and 2024 was the Kenny was holding the team back from contention. So we dropped him for Russ. But Kenny was on a rookie contract for a few years, so we could evaluate him and move on when needed.
Like I said, he has two games left to show something, but I haven't seen much from Russ to view him as a viable option moving forward, or at the very least, nothing that screams "Thank God we got rid of our first round QB for him".
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Russ has definitely come back to earth which should make the team think about how much he is worth going forward before offering a long-term contract. However, any objective analysis that the passing game is not much better than last year, while having less capable receivers, is fallacy.
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How about give him at least one WR that is WR1/2. Because what he’s throwing to the last 3 games ain’t that.
Agree.
Enthroned Into The Good Old Boys Club - 2024
It depends on his asking price. His playoff performance will dictate his salary and if he deserves contract IMO. So far I’m good with Russ. Clinching playoffs with 3 weeks to play and good locker room chemistry from what has been reported. The season starts in 3 weeks though.
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100 percent. Our best WR when GP is out wouldn’t be on half teams in the league, let alone be a number 2. The offense is pissing up a rope.
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We clinched after beating the Browns. That's with 5 weeks left in the regular season, not 3.
Not that it changes the point of my post, but I believe Steelers clinched with Colts loss last week after Steelers lost to Eagles. Beating Browns didn’t clinch. They had 3 games left after they clinched.
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Whenever the Steelers got their 10th win. Whatever really. We are in and that's all that matters.
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I agree. When I wrote pause, I was thinking about contract demands. I should have typed give then pause about how much (and how long) they want to pay him when they offer him an extension. If he is willing to sign something like 3 years at 100 million, I would be on board with that. If he starts demanding 50 or 60 million per over 5-year contract that is another subject. In the range of 35 million a year would make him the lowest paid starting QB in our division by a pretty big sum.
and Allar isn’t that good.
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We clinched after the Philly loss when Colts lost.
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I agree. $50 per in for young studs or foolish teams like the Jets.
I think we have our decision on Wilson. They stepped the QB room up a couple/few steps…but that’s about it…
Let’s hope someone else pays Wilson.
He’s not going to get better during the offseason.
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Do you ever notice that every time Wilson throws an INT he quickly goes to the tight ends. It's as if he's reminding himself that they are on the field.
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An unforced fumble, can't find anyone open on money downs, and an interception. Not good.
Right?
Why not start by using your TEs and backs rather than when you get humbled and are forced to?
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