Steelers Likely Facing Contract Holdout From Russell Wilson's Top Weapon
Russell Wilson and the Steelers have enjoyed quite the resurgence this season, with Wilson having picked up the pieces from his release by the Broncos last spring and parlayed this season into a make-good opportunity on a veteran's minimum deal with Pittsburgh.
In six starts, Wilson is 5-1 with 271.0 yards per game passing, the most of any season in his 13-year career, which includes nine Pro Bowl selections. His ability to stretch the field has been critical in reivtalizing the Pittsburgh offense, which had managed wins but had a conservative approach under original starter Justin Fields.
Coach Mike Tomlin raised some eyebrows around the NFL when he benched Fields after six weeks and a 4-2 record in favor Wilson, who had been out with a calf injury. But the move has worked out well.
One player who has been especially grateful for the insertion of Wilson has been receiver George Pickens, who is up to 850 yards in 12 games this year, with three touchdowns. Wilson is an excellent deep-ball thrower, and Pickens is an excellent deep-ball receiver.
Steelers QB Russell Wilson (right) and WR George Pickens
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
But one issue is lingering with Pickens: his contract. Pickes is in his third season and is making $1.8 milliont this year. He is due to make $2.1 million next year but given his ascension into stardom, he is due a raise. And once this season is over, Pickens is a strong candidate to conduct a holdout until he gets one.
That's from Spotrac managing editor Mike Ginnitti, one of the foremost NFL contract experts in the media. Spoeaking on "The Spotrac Podcast," this week, Ginnitti pointed out that most teams would have already extended Pickens, and the fact that the Steelers have not sets him up for a holdout, even if he has a tendency to be somewhat flighty in his approach and professionalism.
"Probably not a bad guess that he is going to stay away (in a holdout) without a contract," Ginnitti said. "He’s a hell of a player. But Tomlin has been vocal about him, too. Even just last week, saying this guy’s gotta get his head in the right spot or none of us are going to the place we want to go.
"I can tell you right now, he should have been extended already. I think on 29 other franchises, he’d extended. He’s gonna have to work a hell of a lot harder on all facets to get an extension with Pittsburgh."
The Steelers are judicious with their extensions, but locking up Pickens is a plan that makes sense.
"I think the plan is still to pay George Pickens, whatever that’s going to be," Ginnitti said. According to Spotrac, Pickens' production sets his market value at $94 million over four seasons.
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