ESPN pundit believes the Steelers will make the playoffs in spite of Russell Wilson

Whether it's fans, analysts, or the Pittsburgh Steelers themselves, most people believe the team has upgraded the QB room following the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

On top of that, many believe that the Steelers will go as far as their QB play will take them.

Well, Jordan Raanan of ESPN isn't sure that Russell Wilson is the upgrade Pittsburgh thinks he is, even if the team is playoff-bound.

Is Russell Wilson Washed?

"I think Russell Wilson is on the downside of his career," Raanan recently said on ESPN Radio . "I think he's barely a starting quarterback in the NFL at this point of his career. Like, when he lost his mobility, that was maybe Russell Wilson's best attribute. And I don't think he has anymore. Now, I think the Steelers are a very talented team and will make the playoffs, but not because of Russell Wilson. They're gonna be doing the same and working around him, and at some point, we might even see Justin Fields. I think at some point you will see Justin Fields. He's not dynamic enough anymore, Russell Wilson."

There is some truth to Raanan's statement, as Russell is not the athlete that he was during his time in Seattle. Since 2020, Wilson hasn't reached more than 342 yards on the ground, which happened only once over the first nine years of his career .

But to play Devil's Advocate, you don't have to be an elite athlete to play the QB position. Yes, I know that making plays out of structure and creating on the fly was what made Wilson so special in Seattle, but it doesn't mean he can't evolve.

And before you say that he had his chance to evolve in Denver and failed, you have to consider that he played with one head coach who was fired before his first season on the job even ended and another who wanted him gone probably somewhere between shaking his hand for the first time and his introductory press conference.

So is Russell Wilson going to be a Pro Bowler in 2024? Probably not. Is he on the back nine of his career? Sure. But that doesn't mean he can't be an above-average player and one who does what's asked of him in an offense predicated on running the ball.

Whether he's washed or revived is to be determined.

Related: Steelers pass rusher named as teams most underrated player despite unremarkable rookie season