With Russell Wilson signing with the New York Giants on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be getting another compensatory draft pick slot — and it could be a high one.
Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Giants that is worth $10.5 million guaranteed and could be worth up to a maximum of $21 million with incentives. The Steelers will be cheering Wilson on right with the Giants fans that he does.
The Steelers will earn a fifth-round comp pick slot, even if Wilson doesn't earn his incentives. If the contract plays to its full value, it could be a third-round pick. The compensatory draft pick formula includes both salary and playing time, so Wilson will need to remain the starter for the full season for the Steelers to see the full potential benefit.
The Giants also have Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito under contract and could be in the mix for Shedeur Sanders with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at practice on Aug. 1, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Though things can change with playing time, the Steelers currently have six comp pick slots in the 2026 NFL Draft, a third-round pick for Dan Moore Jr. , a fourth for Justin Fields , a fifth for Wilson, and sixths for James Daniels , Donte Jackson and James Daniels, according to Over the Cap . Elandon Roberts is just after the cutoff to be included in the seventh round.
They're canceling out two of those slots with their own signings, with Mason Rudolph and Malik Harrison both worth seventh-round slots, but canceling two sixth-rounders. Brandin Echols is also just on the other side of the line of being worth a seventh-rounder.
While further signings between now and the end of April will cancel out picks, the Steelers seem to be most connected to Aaron Rodgers , who is a non-countable free agent because he was released by the New York Jets .
The Steelers can only receive a maximum of four compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft , but there's no maximum in terms of the value of the picks. So if Wilson (and, for that matter, Fields), max out their contract value and playing time, the Steelers could end up with three third-round comp picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That draft is expected to contain a loaded quarterback class and will be held in Pittsburgh, so it seems like a good year for the Steelers to use those extra assets to trade up in the first round.
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