Russell Wilson and linebacker Patrick Queen
Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 free agency: Patrick Queen and Russell Wilson will sign contracts with the team
NATIONAL NEWS
Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 free agency: Patrick Queen and Russell Wilson will sign contracts with the team
Philadelphia By Mike Darnay
Updated by CBS Pittsburgh on March 13, 2024 at 9:22 p.m. Eastern Time.
Pittsburgh, PA (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to make at least two headline acquisitions now that NFL free agency has begun.
Both linebacker Patrick Queen and quarterback Russell Wilson are anticipated to sign official contracts with the Steelers. What other acquisitions or deals the team might make are unknown.
The 2024 free agency signing window opened on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
In the Steel City, a new QB1?
Numerous people are curious as to whether 35-year-old veteran Russell Wilson will be the front-runner for the starting quarterback position when he joins the Pittsburgh Steelers.
whether he’ll compete against Kenny Pickett in training camp for the quarterback position.
After being cut by the Broncos late on Wednesday, Wilson apparently became a free agent, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on the social networking site X, which was once known as Twitter. It is anticipated that he will sign a one-year contract with the Steelers for the veteran minimum of $1.2 million.
After his contract with the team is confirmed, he is anticipated to wear No. 3 here in Pittsburgh.
The remaining $39 million of Wilson’s enormous $245 million contract, which he signed less than two years ago, will be paid by the Denver Broncos.
Wilson had an 11-9 record as a starter in his two years with Denver.
transferred to Mile High City from Seattle.
Wilson had an 11-9 record as a starter in his two years with Denver.
Switching allegiance in the AFC North
Patrick Queen’s transition from purple and black to black and gold is one that you don’t see very frequently. It is anticipated that the 24-year-old linebacker will ink a three-year contract with the Steelers.
Queen, who was chosen with the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has averaged 113 tackles a season in his four seasons with the Ravens.
It is anticipated that Queen and the Steelers will sign a three-year, $41 million contract.
Marty Humphrey, a defensive back for the Ravens, expressed that he was very saddened by Queen’s signing with the Steelers, saying that it “actually hurts.”
Queen posted a farewell message to the city and Ravens supporters on Wednesday on the social media site X, which was once known as Twitter.
“While my journey has led me elsewhere, thank you for supporting me over the last 4 years,” he partially added.
Inside linebacker Queen will join an already formidable defense that currently has safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and others.
Someone to take Diontae Johnson’s place?
There are a lot of unanswered concerns regarding the Steelers’ potential other free agent acquisitions, including whether or not they will add a wide receiver to complete their roster.
After trading cornerback Donte Jackson to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and exchanging late-round draft picks, the team now has a spot open at wide receiver. On Wednesday night, the team officially announced the trade.
In an interview with SNR Drive, Jackson stated, “I always admired the Steelers.” “I have always respected the excellence that this logo represents and what it stands for. I’m prepared to access that grandeur.”
The Steelers already have released Allen Robinson and head into the start of the league year with the bulk of their receiving corps being built around George Pickens, Calvin Austin III, and Miles Boykin.
It’s still to be determined whether they will add to that corps through the upcoming NFL Draft or if they will fill out the receiver room through free agency with a player like Tyler Boyd, who recently said he was open to signing with his hometown team.
Mason Rudolph moving on from Pittsburgh
While we already know that Russell Wilson will be signing with the Steelers and helping fill out the quarterback room in Pittsburgh, Mason Rudolph’s future was up in the air.
Steelers nation now has an answer. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Wednesday that Rudolph is going to be a Tennessee Titan. He will reportedly compete for the backup job behind Will Levis, a second-round pick from the 2023 draft.
Rudolph started the final four games for the Steelers in 2023, including the team’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
He was a catalyst for the team’s late-season surge, leading Pittsburgh to a 3-1 record down the stretch, but he was a free agent with options.
Steelers reportedly re-sign Pro Bowler
Special teamer Miles Killebrew is reportedly returning to Pittsburgh.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Wednesday that Killebrew is returning to the Steelers on a two-year, $6.5 million deal.
Killebrew, a special teams captain for the Steelers, was voted to the Pro Bowl Games for the first time in his career last year.
