Russell Wilson dropped a hype video. And no, it wasn’t cringey like his “Broncos Country, let’s ride!” one. He tried to stir up excitement about heading to the Steelers. Since then, the buzz hasn’t stopped, especially with the chatter around the 35-year-old quarterback joining the team.
Sure, hardly anyone’s debating that Wilson stepping in wouldn’t be a step up from Kenny Pickett. But the real talk is about just how much of a boost he’ll bring to the table. Shannon Sharpe, for one, weighed in on this on Monday’s ESPN’s First Take. He threw in some props for Wilson but wasn’t about to go overboard with him.
Stephen A. Smith calls out Sharpe on Russell Wilson
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It’s clear that Stephen A. is rooting for the former Broncos’ QB. He tried to persuade Sharpe that he was better than what the Steelers had right now. “This is Kenny Pickett we’re talking about. Anything is an upgrade with the quarterback situation the Steelers had last year.” Smith seemed really upset with the lack of enthusiasm from Sharpe.
.@stephenasmith didn't appreciate the lack of energy from @ShannonSharpe on Russell Wilson as the Steelers' new QB 😆
"This is Kenny Pickett we're talking about. Anything is an upgrade with the quarterback situation the Steelers had last year." pic.twitter.com/2dqTluVUU2
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 11, 2024
Just then, Sharpe fired back. And his comparison was, let’s just say, less than flattering. “Hold on! Bologna is an upgrade over potted meat. I don’t want either one of them though!” But why the former TE wouldn’t think that the veteran player was better than the 2022 draftee was beyond Smith’s grasp.
However, later in the podcast, Sharpe did state his reasons. He eventually came around to the idea that Wilson might be the best card that the Steelers have right now.
Wilson could be the Steelers’ best bet right now
It’s tough to look past Wilson’s rough 2022. He hit a career-low with just a 60.5% completion rate and only 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. But even with that, Wilson still outscored Pickett in touchdowns, which kind of tells you why he’s seen as a step up. But Sharpe isn’t all doom and gloom about Wilson.
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Earlier on, he shared, “I think this is an ideal situation for Russ. He goes to a team that I think they believe in him. I think Mike Tomlin really likes him. I think Mike Tomlin realizes that Russ is better than anything that he’s had since a young Ben Roethlisberger.” According to him, 10-7 wasn’t good enough for them. They want to be in a position where they can compete for championships, and they haven’t been able to do that in a very long time. And Russ is a very viable option.
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And 2023 was a comeback year for Wilson after a less-than-stellar 2022. With a 66.4% pass completion and 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions, he’s definitely shown he’s more than just a slight improvement. For Steelers fans, could upgrading to Wilson turn out to be a gourmet feast?