Purchase Or Promote: The Pittsburgh Steelers want to interrupt their in-season non-negotiation precedent if Russell Wilson balls out.
Rationalization: Steelers common supervisor Omar Khan not too long ago soft-committed to upholding the Steelers’ coverage on in-season contract negotiations. For many years, they’ve refused to barter contracts as soon as the season begins to keep away from distractions. With Russell Wilson, and for that matter Justin Fields, solely below contract for 2024, nonetheless, it’s a potential downside. If Wilson performs very nicely, for instance, they threat exposing him to the open market. It is sensible to not decide to him longer now, however what if he seems to be the half in December?
Purchase:
Nearly any coverage must have exceptions, and that is actually one for the Steelers. Whereas there’s a diploma of logic for barring in-season contract negotiations, you don’t reduce off your nostril to spite your face, or Russell Wilson. If common supervisor Omar Khan is unwilling to be versatile, they’re opening themselves up for a doubtlessly greater headache.
The Steelers solely had the chance to signal Wilson due to offset language in his earlier contract making him low-cost. However they want it very a lot if he performs nicely sufficient to earn a market-value deal subsequent yr. But if he does, then different groups are going to enter his market, and may they outbid for him?
It makes way more sense to remove the danger by extending him in the course of the 2024 season if he seems to be the half. Quarterbacks are at all times exceptions, particularly with regards to contracts. The franchise guys get extensions with two years left on their offers. They get second- and even third-year ensures. You’ll be able to depend on one hand non-quarterbacks whom the Steelers entertain such exceptions for. And so if Wilson seems to be like an exception, deal with him like one.
Promote:
It’s pointless to throw away a coverage only for one unusual exception that’s unlikely within the first place. Let’s not overlook that if Russell Wilson performs like a franchise quarterback, they’ll franchise tag him. The projection for the quarterback franchise tag in 2025 is roughly $42 million, which is doable.
Past that, Wilson very a lot looks like he desires to be right here, so he’s probably keen to conform. In spite of everything, he wished the Steelers to incorporate a no-trade clause in his deal when he signed a Veteran Wage Profit deal. A person in his place doesn’t do this except he actually likes the place he’s.
With the Steelers’ 2023 season within the rearview mirror following a disappointing yr that got here up brief within the playoffs as soon as once more, it’s time to begin asking extra questions. Questions in regards to the workforce’s future in 2024 and past. Questions on The Normal.
The rookie class of a yr in the past was on the entire spectacular, however they should step up into staple starters in 2024. They usually wanted a powerful inflow of expertise in each free company and within the 2024 NFL Draft but once more. Along with a revisitation of the teaching employees.
These types of uncertainties are what I’ll look to handle in our Purchase or Promote collection. In every installment, I’ll introduce a subject assertion and weigh a number of the arguments for both shopping for it (that means that you simply agree with it or anticipate it to be true) or promoting it (that means you disagree with it or anticipate it to be false).
