BALTIMORE — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson saw the green grass in front of him, with the end zone within reach, and took off running. The 36-year-old signal caller scampered for 19 yards to move the ball inside the 5-yard line.

The proposed deal would make sense for both sides. A three-year, $100 million extension would give Wilson the security he’s earned while allowing the Steelers flexibility in building their roster. But has Wilson’s performance demonstrated he’s more than a stopgap solution?

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a disappointing rivalry game against the Baltimore Ravens. With a chance to secure an AFC North Division title, they failed to capitalize and moved into a tie with their bitter rivals atop the standings.

After a tough loss to the Ravens, Russell Wilson delivers a powerful message to his Steelers teammates, reminding them that all is not lost.

While the 36-year-old quarterback can't gamble on the game, doubling-down on his wife of eight years is a safe bet. Wilson and "Goodies" singer share four children together, and the family regularly attends his Steelers matchups.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens marched down the field following the turnover, capping off the 96-yard drive with a touchdown pass to WR Rashod Bateman, putting Baltimore up a touchdown midway through the second quarter. Both kickers traded field goals late in the first half, making the score 17-10 going into halftime.

For the Steelers, the thrill of the 4-2 start the team established under Justin Fields and the subesequent four-game winning streak that followed once veteran Russell Wilson took over at quarterback has faded into a difficult reality. The Steelers, it seems, are a good team but without a top-of-the-line quarterback, they'll never be great.

The Steelers could offer Russell Wilson a similar contract to Baker Mayfield once the 2024-25 season concludes.

There's a slim chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers could be in the market for a quarterback in 2025, when both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents. As a result, one NFL analyst believes the Steelers could be a landing spot for a $180 million quarterback who is expected to be available in free agency.

If we were writing a letter to Santa about what to bring the Pittsburgh Steelers for Christmas, the future franchise quarterback would be near the top of the list. The Steelers future at quarterback is cloudy with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both set to hit free agency and no one exactly sure what the Pittsburgh front office will do.