In an unexpected turn of events, the Pittsburgh Steelers have landed their primary free agent target, Russell Wilson, while missing out on their pursuit of center Mitch Morse. The Steelers agreed to a one-year contract with Wilson in the early hours of Monday, but Morse has instead opted to sign a two-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Morse, who was released by the Buffalo Bills last week as part of their salary cap-related cuts, had visited the Steelers for a free-agent visit last Friday. However, negotiations between the two parties failed to materialize into a deal. Shortly after, Morse traveled to Jacksonville for a meeting with the Jaguars and quickly reached an agreement on a two-year, $10.5 million contract with $7 million in guarantees.

The 31-year-old center spent five seasons with the Bills, where he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2022. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 305 pounds, Morse has been a consistent starter at center for Buffalo. Prior to his time with the Bills, he played four seasons as the center for the Kansas City Chiefs.

With the departure of Morse, the Steelers find themselves in need of a new center after parting ways with Mason Cole earlier in the offseason. Currently, they only have one natural center on their roster, Ryan McCollum from the practice squad. While Steelers general manager Omar Khan expressed confidence in the versatility of guards James Daniels and Nate Herbig to play the center position, it is evident that finding a center remains a top priority for the team this offseason.

The Steelers were linked to several top center prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class, including Jackson Powers-Johnson from Oregon and Zach Frazier from West Virginia. However, they prefer not to enter the draft with a pressing need at a specific position. Morse's signing could provide a short-term solution at center, allowing the Steelers to develop a draft pick under his guidance.

Financial details of Morse's new contract remain undisclosed, but it is worth noting that he earned $6.6 million in base salary, a $6 million signing bonus, and a $510,000 per-game roster bonus with the Bills in 2023. The Steelers will now shift their focus to the upcoming free agent contact period, which begins on Monday.

This marks the Steelers' first contact with a free agent center during this offseason. Alongside their pursuit of Morse, they also met with quarterback Russell Wilson last Friday, ultimately securing a deal with the talented athlete. The Steelers are continuously looking to improve their roster, and with the signing of Wilson and the missed opportunity with Morse, the team is determined to make strategic moves in their pursuit of success.