In the interim, as supporters eagerly await the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next move about their quarterback problem, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco took to Twitter to provide his thoughts.
The former All-Pro believes the team should acquire a clear choice at the position.
In an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the Nightcap podcast on January 19, Ochocinco stated that the Steelers’ pursuit of Russell Wilson “makes too much sense.”
“If you’re sincere, Russell Wilson is undoubtedly available now that Mike Tomlin has received a contract extension. You should get him,” Ochocinco remarked. “I believe they will be on fire because of their offensive combination, Russell Wilson, Diontae Johnson, and Najee Harris. Perfect, Super Bowl coach, Super Bowl quarterback, playoff quarterback, and playoff coach. George Pickens will really enjoy it, I think. If your goal is to compete in the AFC North, it just doesn’t make sense to turn down a chance like that.
This is not the first time Ochocinco has put out this proposal. Not long after Wilson was benched by the Broncos, he also mentioned the concept.
Different Views on Who the Steelers Should Chase
If the Steelers determine early in the 2023 NFL offseason that the quarterback they currently have on the roster isn’t the best fit for the job, they have a lot of options to choose from, and each of those options has received endorsements from various sources.
Only last week, Marcus Spears declared that the Steelers, with Kirk Cousins, would “absolutely” be contenders.
According to Keyshawn Johnson, the Steelers should go acquire Justin Fields.
Along with Cousins and Fields, Dan Orlovsky listed Baker Mayfield as a quarterback the Steelers should consider.
Ochocinco has now backed an effort to acquire Wilson.
Regarding the team’s possibilities, Antonio Brown selected Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback in response to a Twitter query.
Kenny Pickett hasn’t received much support from the general public this summer, so he’ll probably have to fight with whatever else the team has on the roster when the preseason begins for the starting spot.
The Steelers’ decision on the quarterback position is currently the most significant one they must make, and they have several possibilities to choose from.
Wilson Is Not Currently Actually Available
Although Wilson is a player that is anticipated to join a new team in 2024, there is now a significant obstacle in the way of his transfer.
The player and the team haven’t formally said that they’re seeking a transfer yet.
It appeared like his time in Denver was running out when the team benched him for the final two weeks of the season.
Wilson did, however, state in the aftermath that he still desired to play for the Broncos.
Additionally, there isn’t much that the team stands to gain by cutting Wilson before the 2024 campaign.
They don’t have a suitable successor, therefore he would still carry a significant dead cap hit.
The quarterback they select in the first round of the 2018 draft will most likely be a product of spending a season behind Wilson.
Letting Wilson leave becomes much more enticing if they get an offer for a trade that lessens the financial damage they incur on his contract, but there haven’t been any indications of teams preparing a proposal for the nine-time Pro Bowler as of yet.
Wilson may play for a different team in 2024; perhaps the Steelers will be that team. However, as of right now, he is a quarterback for a team that, should he be released, lacks a backup quarterback.
