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From Mirror, wire reports
The Pittsburgh Steelers say they have faith in Kenny Pickett as their quarterback, but reports surfaced on Friday that may not be totally true.
The Steelers are looking around. They brought in Russell Wilson for a visit Friday according to numerous reports, including The Athletic. The Denver Broncos announced they will release Wilson at the start of the new league year next Wednesday, but Wilson has been given permission to talk to other teams.
A visit doesn't mean the team will definitely sign the one-time Seattle Seahawks quarterback, though it's an indication of what everyone knew: The Steelers may want an upgrade over their current quarterback situation.
There will be other teams who will be interested in at least talking to Wilson. That includes the New York Giants, surprisingly.
The Giants had an "exploratory meeting" with Wilson, who was spotted at Newark Airport on Friday, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's no secret the Giants are in the mix to draft a first-round quarterback, but having discussions with Wilson indicates that Daniel Jones might be in even more trouble.
Wilson to the Steelers seems to be a decent fit. The Steelers seem to need a quarterback answer but don't have a ton of cap space or a great draft pick. They have a little more than $11 million in cap space, just eighth in the NFL according to Spotrac.
Wilson would give them a new option at quarterback at a cheap price. Because the Broncos are paying Wilson's $39 million salary for 2024 and there is offset language, a team could theoretically sign Wilson for the minimum salary this season. The Broncos would still be picking up a majority of the $39 million he is due.
The question for the Steelers, Giants or any other team interested in Wilson is whether he can play more like he did with the Seahawks during their back-to-back visits to the Super Bowl this past decade.
Wilson was excellent with the Seahawks, with nine Pro Bowls in 10 seasons, and the Broncos made a huge trade for him. That worked out as poorly as any trade in NFL history.
Wilson really struggled in 2022. He did play much better in 2023 but that wasn't enough for Broncos coach Sean Payton, who preferred to take on $85 million in dead cap charges by cutting Wilson rather than continuing on another season with him.
The former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback will turn 36 next season and there's no guarantee he'll ever rebound to his prime form.
Peterson released
PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers released cornerback Patrick Peterson and wide receiver Allen Robinson II on Friday in cost-cutting moves ahead of the start of free agency next week.
Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowler, signed a two-year deal with the Steelers last March. He was due a roster bonus of almost $3 million next week.
The 33-year-old Peterson had two interceptions and 42 tackles for the Steelers last season while serving as a mentor to rookie Joey Porter Jr. He moved from cornerback to safety late in the season when the position was decimated by injuries.
Robinson, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams last April, had 34 receptions for a career-low 280 yards without a touchdown for Pittsburgh. The move saves the Steelers $10 million in salary cap space.
Also Friday, Pittsburgh re-signed backup defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko, who spent most of last season on the practice squad.