ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Ru sell Wilsons resume and experience give him the edge over Justin Fields.Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Wilson is considered Pittsburghs starting quarterback but Fields will get a chance to compete.Were not resistant to competition, but as Ive mentioned several times of late, I just think its appropriate to establish positioning. ... and the term that Ive used is Ru sell has pole position, Tomlin said. And why do I use that term? Because during this time where we are not formally working, I just think its beneficial. His experience in the National Football League, his proce s has been honed and perfected.Talking about over a 12-month calendar, its not only good for him, its good for teams, its good for receivers, tight ends, running backs, etc. All the things that people really committed to winning do this time of the year, Ru sell has those resources, that structure. And so thats why I say he has pole position. It just creates a synergy that I think is good for this time of year. When its time to compete and we get in training camp-like settings and were going to stadiums and so forth, obviously Justin be given an opportunity to show people.ADVERTISEMENT The Steelers revamped their quarterback room earlier this month, signing Wilson to the $1.21 million veterans minimum after the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback was Brook Lopez Jersey released by Denver.Kenny Pickett, the teams first-round pick in 2022, asked for a trade after Wilsons arrival, Tomlin said. So, Pittsburgh sent him to Philadelphia and , a first-round pick in 2021, from Chicago for a conditional sixth-round choice in 2025.The Steelers also let Mason Rudolph (Titans) and Mitch Trubisky (Bills) leave in free agency.The 35-year-old Wilson was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after being acquired in a trade from Seattle. He bounced back from a dreadful 2022 season and threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, but still lost his job to Jarrett Stidham after going 7-8 in coach Sean Paytons first season last year.Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons with the Seahawks.The Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game with Rudolph as their starting quarterback. Rudolph went 3-0 after replacing Pickett, who was 7-5 before going down with an injury. Trubisky started the other two games and went 0-2.When the free agency proce s began, we only had one quarterback on our roster and so we Matthew Dellavedova Jersey were looking at every available person on the market, Tomlin said. It was just part of our proce s. Obviously when we got into it, and after (Wilson) got permi sion to talk. ... the conversations were very fluid and natural. He did his appropriate research on us, and I think thats probably one of the more impre sive things about the proce s from my perspective. His level of preparedne s in terms of knowing us and who we are and how he might potentially fit just really put us at ease over the proce s.Fields was 10-28 on lousy teams in Chicago but showed flashes of being a . He completed 60.3% of his Sterling Brown Jersey pa ses and threw for 40 touchdown with 30 interceptions. Plus, he ran for 2,220 yards and 14 scores.He oozes talent and potential, Tomlin said. Hes worn the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback, but still he gets an opportunity to come into a community-like situation and learn from a guy thats been doing it for over a decade. Man, theres a lot of meat left on that bone and Im just excited.EASY DECISIONReleasing Wilson costs Denver an $85 million salary cap hit over the next two seasons but Payton has no regrets.Asked if it was difficult to move on from Wilson considering the Broncos are taking the largest dead cap hit in NFL history, Payton responded: No.He paused, and then added: I mean its always difficult when you take a cap hit like that. We spent time deciding how we were going to take that and then we move forward again.Stidham will get a chance to be Denvers starting quarterback and Payton indicated the team is interested in trading with Arizona for the No. 4 spot in the draft.Hes definitely competing to be the starter, Payton said of Stidham. I dont think we have a term drivers seat really. But hes going to compete for that position. I know hes anxious and excited to do that, and Im sure there will be other candidates that will be competing with him.J.J. MCCARTHYS BIGGEST FANNew Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated that J.J. McCarthy is the best quarterback in a draft cla s thats expected to see Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye selected before him.Harbaugh and McCarthy led Michigan to a national championship last season so the coach knows the QB better than most.They could be adulating J.J. or being booed or being hit, and then this killer comes out, Harbaugh said. Whether its good, whether its bad, hes got an extra gear especially when hes being challenge. And you also see the big personality and (hell) do anything for another guy on the team. ... Hes incredible. Big market, small market, cold weather, hot weather, it wouldnt matter. Ive said it before. I think hes the best quarterback in the draft. Thats my opinion. Theres great quarterbacks in the draft. Hes Kyle Korver Jersey the one who plays quarterbacks the best. AIDANS TEAMThe Raiders signed veteran Gardner Minshew after he nearly led Indianapolis to the playoffs but the starting job is Aidan OConnells to lose.Youre talking about a kid that has the mental toughne s to play in the National Football League, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. Whatever happens and whatever we do, it has to go through Aidan OConnell. Being honest with you because hes earned that right.OConnell completed 62.1% of his pa ses for 2,218 yards, 12 TDs and seven interceptions as a rookie, going 5-4 after replacing Jimmy Garoppolo.RODGERS RETURNJets coach Robert Saleh expects Aaron Rodgers to be ready for organized team activities in the spring after the four-time NFL MVP tore an Achilles tendon in New Yorks season opener.Its no surprise since Rodgers had already resumed throwing late last season and was considering a comeback if the Jets wouldve been in playoff contention.Saleh said he had no reaction when speculation arose that Rodgers was being considered as a running mate for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s presidential campaign.I think it was viewed a little bit differently in the political world than it was, at least in our world, Saleh said.REPLACING FLACCOBrowns coach Kevin Stefanski knows the importance of having a capable Vin Baker Jersey backup quarterback. Joe Flacco stepped in and went 4-1, helping the Browns reach the playoffs last season after Deshaun Watson was sidelined by a shoulder injury. But Flacco didnt get a contract offer. Cleveland signed Jameis Winston instead of bringing back the 2023 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year.Your goal is to have your starter healthy for all 17 games and beyond but we know thats a position thats important for the team both in the meeting room, on the practice field, around the locker room so we feel like adding good players is a good thing at that position, Stefanski said.Winston, the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 2015, spent the past four seasons as a spot starter in New Orleans, going 6-4. As for Watson, Stefanski said his rehab is right on schedule. He and new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey visited Watson in Los Angeles earlier this month. Hes right where he needs to be, Stefanski said. He has started throwing. Joe Sheehan, our trainer, went out and supervised some of his throwing. So well see him in April when he gets back in and well just continue that rehab.Stefanski did not offer any timeline on Watson in terms on when hell be full-go.___AP NFL: