After Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson’s first preseason start this past Saturday against the Bills, many national NFL talking heads are already saying that signing the 35-year-old in Pittsburgh was a mistake.
So much so that some are saying the Steelers should trade Wilson and sign current free agent Ryan Tannehill.
Former NFL general manager and exec Michael Lombardi floated the idea on The Pat McAfee show Tuesday.
“Do you make that phone call to Ryan Tannehill?” asked Lombardi. “He knows Arthur (Smith’s) offense.”
With Broderick Jones struggling in the preseason game, Lombardi said if that’s they way the O-line is, it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is.
Tannehill’s name was brought up again on ESPN’s Get Up when former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum talked about the Steelers.
Tannenbaum says with Minnesota needing a quarterback after rookie J.J. McCarthy’s season game to an end after a torn meniscus, the Steelers should think about trading Wilson to the Vikings.
“I think a win-win here is to trade Russell Wilson to Minnesota, I think he’s a better quarterback than Sam Darnold,” said Tannenbaum.
He also pointed out how Tannehill did under Arthur Smith in Tennessee.
“You go back to the two years that Ryan Tannehill was with Arthur Smith in Tennessee they had an unbelievable two-year run,” said Tannenbaum. “18 and 8, they averaged 30 points per game. Let him come in and at least, initially backup Justin Field.”
Tannenbaum says the Steeler then have a young talent in Justin Fields and someone who already is familiar with Smith’s offense in Tannehill AND the Steelers can get an extra draft pick by trading Wilson to the Vikings.
Likely a 3rd or 4th rounder.