The Pittsburgh Steelers unfortunately had their 2024 season come to an end on the heels of a five-game losing streak that was capped off with an embarrassing loss to the divisional rival Baltimore Ravens. An early exit from the postseason is becoming all to familiar to the Steelers, as their attention turns to the 2025 offseason to try and fix what went wrong down the stretch.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on as his team loses another playoff game at the end of the 2024 season.
There is no doubt that the biggest question in terms of the team's roster construction for the 2025 season is what the Steelers will do with the quarterback position. Most of Steeler Nation thought that Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin, and whoever else was involved hit multiple home runs with the moves they made in 2024 to bring in two big name quarterbacks. Getting Russell Wilson for the league minimum thanks to the Denver Broncos paying him a hefty amount of money, and trading a 2025 6th round pick away for Justin Fields both received rave reviews.
Going into 2025 however, both those moves could end up resulting in one and done seasons for Wilson and Fields in Pittsburgh. That is far from a guarantee, but that option is definitely on the table depending which direction the team wants to go moving forward. Gerry Dulac spoke on the WDVE Morning Show and talked about the future of several of the Steelers' free agents. He went into some detail about Wilson and Fields, as their future isn't as straight forward.
"When he (Russell Wilson) signed here, the idea I was told from both sides, is that they intended to do a longer term deal," said Dulac on Wilson signing in Pittsburgh before the season. "To me, I always thought, okay that's fine, but what happens if he bleeps the bed? Which I wouldn't exactly call what he did bleeping the bed. Do they want to bring him back? Does Arthur Smith want him back? I know it's not going to be his call, but he is going to have a say in it. Does Arthur Smith want Russell Wilson? I can't sit here and tell you if that is a yay or a nay... If I had had to guess, he'd be back."
Not everyone would be on board with Wilson returning to Pittsburgh in 2025, but there is a chance he is the best option. If the Steelers wanted a veteran to come in, the options that might be available would be Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, or Sam Darnold, and it isn't clear if any of them would be an instant upgrade at this point.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields warming up before a game.
The draft options aren't much better, as this is a relatively weak quarterback class and the Steelers will be picking in the back half. That takes us to the other potential option in re-signing Fields.
"I thought his (Justin Fields) 4-2 start bought him a job with another team," Dulac explained on the Steelers re-signing Fields. "He was not in demand last year coming from the Bears. But I think the league saw him play, and have success at 4-2, I thought immediately that is going to get him an opportunity somewhere else... I would think in a best case scenario, even if he is a number two because he is a good number two to have, I think they would like to have Justin Fields back. But at what price? But it is up to him, he is an unrestricted free agent and if he gets a decent offer somewhere, maybe he thinks he has a better shot, that's up to him."
There is no doubt everyone would love having Fields back on the team as the second quarterback, especially since some were begging to see him take back over as the starter by the end of the season. Fields probably gives the team the highest upside of the current available options, but there is no guarantee he is on the team next year at this point since his market is very unknown. All that being said, there is a chance both Wilson and Fields are playing elsewhere in 2025 if Khan and Tomlin decide they need to totally reset at the position.
Steelers Are The Number One Destination For Russell Wilson In 2025
Speaking with the media, Wilson made it clear that he enjoyed his time in Pittsburgh and that his plan is to return to the team next season. While the room may be divided on whether that is a wise decision for the organization, it will likely be largely dictated by numbers. If Wilson decides he truly wants to stay, and is willing to take a team-friendly deal, he will likely be back in Pittsburgh in 2025, despite a disastrous end to the season.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson on the sideline during a game against the New York Jets in 2024.
Right now, the ceiling for a contract for Wilson would likely be something similar to what Baker Mayfield received last offseason from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That would be a three-year contract worth a total of $100 million. That might seen pretty rich to some people, but that would put him in the bottom five of starting quarterbacks that are not on rookie contracts next season.
Do you think the Steelers should focus on bringing back Russell Wilson or Justin Fields in 2025? Let us know below!
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