NFL News

Wilson to Sign 1-Year Deal with Steelers – Russell Wilson has found a new landing spot.

The quarterback and nine time Pro Bowler, is planning on signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN’s Senior Insider Adam Schefter reported late Sunday night.

In a social media post Sunday, Wilson wrote: “Year 13. Grateful.”
With it was a corresponding video of the Steelers and their fans.

A source with knowledge of the situation, speaking with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is yet to be finalized, said Wilson will receive the veteran’s minimum of $1.21 million while the Broncos will be on the hook for the remaining balance of his $39 million salary.

The Broncos made it public last week that they planned to release Wilson after the kick off of the new league year.

Wilson’s decision to sign with the Steelers gives Pittsburgh a veteran presence and option to compete against Kenny Pickett next season.

It is an opportunity for the signal-caller to have a fresh start and prove that he can still be an effective starter.

CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson had reported over the weekend that Wilson’s visit to the ‘Steel City’, had gone “great” and that he had a lengthy and productive conversation with brand new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

The Broncos granted permission to Wilson, 35, to start meeting with teams ahead of the opening of free agency. There had been some courting with the New York Giants, who have glaring quarterback issues of their own and needs stability in the worst way at the position.

Wilson has been through the ringer for two trying seasons in the ‘Mile High City’, Denver after the Broncos were a part of the worst trade in NFL history and paid a hefty price to bring in the once-star quarterback.

Wilson went 4-11 in 2022 and 7-8 last season before being benched for the final two games of the year in favor of Jarrett Stidham. The quarterback never seemed to build a healthy dynamic with new head coach Sean Payton, who was hired prior to the 2023 campaign.

Wilson repeatedly said to whoever would listen after the season that the Broncos attempted to force him to waive the injury guarantee on his salary.

The decision to cut Wilson ended up costing the Broncos $85 million in dead cap money.

And…

Buccaneers, QB Mayfield Agree to New Deal – The Buccaneers are running it back.

Tampa Bay and Baker Mayfield have agreed to terms on a three-year, $100 million contract worth up to $115 million in incentives and $50 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, according to sources.

Here is the breakdown of the contract by the numbers. Mayfield is set to make $30 million guaranteed in 2024, $30 million (with $20 million banked) in 2025 and $40 million in 2026, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. There is $5 million per year in incentives, bringing up the maximum value of the contract to $115 million.

The organization has since confirmed the deal.

Mayfield, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick out of the University of Oklahoma, turned journeyman, had a career year in 2023. He threw for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, while helping spark the Buccaneers to a third consecutive NFC South title and an appearance in the NFC Divisional Round after the retirement of Tom Brady.

His outstanding efforts led to the signal callers first-ever Pro Bowl, and he also finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting.

Mayfield had shown glimpses of becoming a long-term solution at the quarterback position with the Browns, who he played with from 2018-2021. He was the second-place finisher in Offensive Rookie of the Year, threw for 3,000 yards in each year with Cleveland and during the 2020 season helped deliver the organization its first postseason victory since 1994 against their arch rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, his peaks and valleys still reared their ugly heads, leading the Browns to move on from him ahead of the 2022 campaign, which he eventually split between the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.

When Mayfield signed with the Bucs in 2023, Tampa Bay was to be his fourth team in the span of one offseason to another. Expectations were minimal, and he promptly shattered them.

Sitting at 4-7, with little hops to speak of in late November, Mayfield and the Bucs went on an unexpected run and won five of their last six regular-season games to capture the division, then demolished the defending NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles, 32-9, in the wild-card round before taking the upstart Detroit Lions to the edge the following week.

Mayfield, who turns 29 years old in April, showed instant chemistry with both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, as Godwin paced the team with 83 catches and Evans took that baton with 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Neither Mayfield nor Evans were guaranteed to return to Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers have now secured both of them within the last seven days, and also ensured their best defensive back, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., would stick around on at least a franchise tag.

The Buccaneers are gearing up for a run at a fourth straight NFC Division crown, with the latest move to do so, agreeing to terms with their quarterback on the eve of free agency, perhaps being the most critical.