Russell Wilson was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers to an extremely team-friendly contract costing just $1.21 million before NFL free agency could even begin. There were others who believed that this implied Kenny Pickett would be able to contend for the starting quarterback position in Pittsburgh. Some, however, interpreted Wilson’s signing as a strong omen that the former Super Bowl quarterback would be starting for the Steelers.

When Wilson remained the sole quarterback on Pittsburgh’s roster following Pickett’s trade to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, the Steelers’ intentions were made clear. This was undoubtedly an unexpected move.

Given that Wilson is 35 years old and Pickett is only 25 years old, both could play a role in Pittsburgh’s future. Not to add, only two drafts ago he was selected as the 20th overall pick; is it really that late?

Regardless of what other people may think—the Steelers have already traded Pickett—many were taken aback by the action. But now we know why Pittsburgh felt forced to deal their young quarterback so soon.

As some may recall, Wilson’s signing was only the most recent red flag during his brief tenure in Pittsburgh. According to Gerry Dulac of KDKA-TV, Pickett also reportedly refused to dress as the emergency quarterback during the team’s Week 17 matchup with Seattle after learning he had been demoted to No. 3 QB duties.

According to other reports, Wilson’s signing was a surprise to Pickett, who only found out about it when everyone else did on social media. The following morning, Mike Tomlin told his rookie quarterback that Wilson would start the game and get the most reps during practice. At that point, Pickett made his trade demand.

The Steelers undoubtedly desired to retain Wilson and Pickett, but it was necessary to ensure they did not end up with a “locker room cancer.” Even yet, it’s unfortunate that everything happened at such a time, since it might have contributed to Mason Rudolph signing in Tennessee rather than going back to Pittsburgh.

There were rumors of Steelers ownership, and several players even expressed a desire for Rudolph to come back; the interest seemed to be shared by both parties. However, after Wilson was added, Rudolph saw the writing on the wall and acted on what he believed to be his best option. The Steelers now realize that they will need to add a quarterback this offseason, and that addition may come through free agency, the draft, or both.