The talk of the town around the Steel City has been the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback situation as the NFL's new league year approaches. Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson can begin negotiating with other teams on Monday when the legal tampering period begins. As the weekend is set to get underway, there is no indication that one of the two starters from the 2024 campaign will definitely be back in 2025. The signal-caller position has been a problem for the organization since Ben Roethlisberger retired, and that trend may continue, especially if neither Fields nor Wilson returns.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson points towards some of his teammates as the offense prepares to run a drill during 2024 mandatory minicamp in Pittsburgh, PA.
There will be a lot of significant questions for the front office to answer if the decision is made to have a completely new quarterback room for the second offseason in a row. It was once believed that either Fields or Wilson would be back, but now it appears as if the franchise may be considering other options. That would be a big risk given the available names out there.
Fans are anxiously awaiting for the front office to make a decision, but it's anyone's guess as to who will end up being the starter once the 2025 regular season kicks off. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is extremely plugged into the Steelers' building and he reported on Friday afternoon that the team has not ruled out losing both Fields and Wilson to the free agency market.
"The delay in deciding between quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields — a decision that could have been made months ago — would appear to suggest the Steelers are considering another option," Dulac wrote. "And that includes the possibility of going outside the organization — again — to find a starting quarterback, something the Steelers have not dismissed, according to sources."
This is an intriguing situation because it appears as if Wilson would enjoy returning to play for the Steelers, but Fields is likely the top choice internally. The problem with that is Fields is coming off a strong six-game stint in which he led Pittsburgh to a record of 4-2. At his age and with his exceptional mobility, another team out there may swoop in and pay him much more than the Steelers are willing to offer.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson (left) and Justin Fields (right) warming up before a work out during offseason activities at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.
It is widely known that NFL teams nowadays need a prominent signal-caller to make deep playoff runs. The Steelers have not won a postseason matchup since the 2016 season, which is why the Black and Gold faithful have been calling for a permanent solution in the quarterback room. Fields has a ton of upside at 26 years old, but doesn't have a consistent track record at the professional level.
This fact has led many to believe that he will receive a two-year deal worth roughly $12.5-$15 million per season. Some teams may be more desperate than Pittsburgh, however, and throw more money in his direction. This is the reason why he could be waiting for free agency, and the Steelers may end up going in a completely different direction than anyone initially expected.
Dulac continued by noting that a decision by the organization will come in the next day or two, insinuating that fans will know before the legal tampering period if Fields or Wilson will be returning.
"The Steelers will make a move with their quarterback situation in the next day or two. The ponderous and needless delay deciding between Wilson and Fields — if that is even the real debate — has opened other possibilities."
The quarterback saga in the Steel City will be over relatively soon, but it is becoming much more problematic than many anticipated. Fields is the younger and more elusive option, but could have a significant market. Wilson might be over the Steelers at this point if he has come to the conclusion that he is no longer the first option. All of this could lead to the internal decisions Dulac referred to. The organization may now truly believe neither will be back in 2025.
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Steelers quarterback Justin Fields runs off the playing surface following a Week 6 game against the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV.
Steelers Have Botched The Quarterback Position In Recent Years
Pittsburgh can't afford to bring in a new signal-caller each year. It's not how teams win in the current era of the NFL. The front office must make a commitment to someone for at least the next two seasons, and then have the option to draft and develop a quarterback in 2026. The team is playing with fire, and it might come back to bite it once again.
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