The Russell Wilson experiment with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a disaster, but at least the 36-year-old quarterback is leaving the front office with a parting gift. With the dust settled on free agency and the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, Over the Cap projects the Steelers' front office will receive a fifth-round compensatory pick for Wilson's departure this offseason.
Say what, now? Pittsburgh is getting rewarded for Russell Wilson signing with the New York Giants? You read that right.
With the quarterback market drying up quickly in free agency, the Giants inked the veteran quarterback to a one-year, $10.5 million contract. This number came well under early egregious contract projections from Spotrac.com. Fortuantely, this will be enough for the Steelers to garner a fifth-round comp pick for Wilson.
Things started strong for Wilson in Pittsburgh after taking over for Justin Fields in Week 7. However, the aging quarterback crumbled down the stretch as the Steelers lost five straight games to close the year (including the Wild Card loss to the Ravens) while scoring just 14 points per game during this stretch.
The Pittsburgh Steelers get extra NFL Draft capital for the failed Russell Wilson experiment
For many Pittsburgh Steelers fans, 2025 felt like a squandered season. Some feel like Mike Tomlin and the front office wasted a prime year of T.J. Watt and one of Cam Heyward's final seasons on a pipe dream that Wilson, who was coming off two bad seasons with the Denver Broncos, would be good enough to compete in the AFC Playoffs.
Thankfully, the Steelers were able to turn the page on Wilson while earning a compensatory pick in the process. A fifth-round comp pick isn't going to make or break Pittsburgh's 2026 draft next year, but this is a little win that will add up when we consider all of the other compensatory picks this team will receive.
In addition to the comp pick received from Wilson's departure, the Steelers are on track to earn comp picks from free agents Dan Moore Jr., Justin Fields, and James Daniels—each of whom signed with new teams during the 2025 offseason.
The collection of these minor compensatory wins gives the Steelers outstanding draft capital to work with for the 2026 NFL Draft, and considering the current state of this team, Pittsburgh may take their big swing for a franchise quarterback next year.
In some small way, Russell Wilson's decision to sign with the Giants may contribute to the Pittsburgh Steelers landing their franchise quarterback by giving them just enough ammunition and flexibility in the 2026 draft to make a move. After the way things ended in 2025, consider this Wilson's apology letter to the team.