The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to have a quarterback competition in training camp between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, with the former entering as the favorite based on comments by head coach Mike Tomlin earlier this offseason.
However, one NFL analyst out there, Pro Football Network's Dakota Randall, thinks it's possible that Wilson won't even make it to the start of the regular season as a member of the Steelers.
In an article naming one cut candidate for every NFL team, Randall picked Wilson for the Steelers, citing the possibility that the veteran signal-caller gets released if Fields ends up winning the competition.
"With a salary of just over $1 million, Russell Wilson arguably is more valuable to the Steelers if he stays on the roster," Randall wrote. "However, the salary also makes him easy to cut, and if Justin Fields wins the starting QB job, Pittsburgh might want to cut Wilson to avoid distractions."
While Wilson's tiny salary certainly makes him an easy cut if things don't work out, the chances of that happening before the start of the season are slim, at best.
Even if Fields wins the starting job, the Steelers would be wise to hold on to Wilson as an insurance policy in the event that the young signal-caller doesn't pan out or suffers an injury. Forget worrying about distractions, the Steelers need options.
But Wilson is not going to lose this competition to Fields, as he's simply the better all-around quarterback and gives Pittsburgh the best chance to win. So, not only will he be on the roster come Week 1, Wilson will also be taking the snaps under center.
