Russell Wilson’s Steelers contract reportedly contains one interesting clause
Russell Wilson’s contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers is not particularly noteworthy on the surface. He signed a one-year deal worth just over $1.2 million, as he is still owed a huge sum of money by the Denver Broncos.
Despite those relatively simple terms, there is one unusual aspect to the deal. In an appearance on “Get Up!” Wednesday, ESPN’s Dan Graziano said Wilson’s one-year deal also contains a no-trade clause.
“Russell Wilson actually has a no-trade clause in his Steelers contract, which is bizarre. I’ve never seen that before,” Graziano said. “It gives him some say in it if they get to the point and (Justin) Fields is going to be the starter, Russell can say ‘trade me or cut me’ and then he has some control over where he goes.”
A no-trade clause in a one-year deal is odd. The Steelers traded for Fields after signing Wilson, so the inclusion might suggest that Wilson had at least some awareness of what was to come.
As Graziano said, its inclusion is likely a form of insurance for Wilson, who would be able to control his next landing spot if something did push him to try to leave Pittsburgh.
The big question is whether Wilson might need to invoke that protection at any point. He enters training camp as the starting quarterback, but Fields has made it clear that he is trying to win that job. If Fields succeeds, Wilson may be on the move again, albeit to a team of his choosing.