Grading every external free agent signing for the Steelers so far

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not close to being finished when it comes to retooling their roster for the 2024 season. But now that we've had some time to reflect on their first wave of external free agent signings, we are getting a clearer picture of how they will fit on the roster and what this could mean for the team moving forward.

Russell Wilson feels like yesterday's news at this point, but we know that nothing is more important than the quarterback position in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Steelers signed a veteran punter and safety who will slide right into prominent roles, as well as a polarizing Pro Bowl linebacker who may not be as safe as fans think.

By the end of the offseason, the Steelers roster is going to look very different, but let's examine the first four external free agent moves Pittsburgh made.

I have taken the liberty of grading each of their first four free agent signings. To determine my grades, I included factors such as contracts, 2023 performance, fit with the team, and expectations for 2024. Here are my early grades for each signing.

Russell Wilson free agency grade: B-

After watching Russell Wilson play over the past three years, we have the right to question how much is left in the tank. Despite his resume as a former nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Wilson looked like a shade of his former self on the Denver Broncos in 2022 and 2023.

While signing a struggling 35-year-old quarterback isn't the flashiest move this team could have made at the position, it's hard to argue that the price tag wasn't right. The Steelers inked Wilson to a one-year, $1.2 million deal for the 2024 season (which is the veteran minimum).

With the going rate of starting quarterbacks, there's no question that Wilson deserved a much higher contract. Heck, Daniel Jones is making $40 million per season. This vet-minimum contract gave the Steelers ample cap space to beef up their roster.

At the end of the day, however, Wilson's performance is going to dictate whether being cheap at QB was the right option. Russell Wilson is not a long-term fix, but I'm giving this move a 'B-' simply for the lack of better options available in 2024.