The Pittsburgh Steelers took the world by storm the night before the 2025 legal tampering period opened by making a huge splash trading for DK Metcalf. After making a trade of that magnitude (which completely changed the outlook of their offense for next season), all of Steeler Nation turned their eyes back to what the team would do at the quarterback position.
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DK Metcalf celebrates as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
Justin Fields was presumed to be the Steelers' preferred choice for the 2025 season, as his upside as a mobile quarterback definitely gave the team a high ceiling, maybe even making them Super Bowl contenders. However, that option got swept out from under them as Fields agreed to a deal with the New York Jets to become their next starting quarterback.
The Jets agreed to a two-year deal worth $40 million, which includes $30 million guaranteed. Considering how high the ceiling is for quarterbacks with their contracts, and the Steelers having plenty of cap space at the time of Fields agreeing to the deal, it was a bit disappointing to see Fields leave Pittsburgh.
Some speculation was that Fields wanted a guaranteed starting spot in 2025 to prove himself, and the Jets potentially offered that. However, it now is also being reported by CBS' Aditi Kinkhabwala that the Steelers didn't offer Fields any guaranteed money after the first year of the deal.
Talked to multiple personnel execs who expressed zero surprise at #Jets giving Justin Fields two year-$40M deal. He’s smart, a hard worker and athletic enough to run. #Steelers coaches very tangibly improved his footwork and taught him how to see the field better.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) March 11, 2025
I’m told…
Guaranteed money is always extremely important in NFL contracts, and it would come as no surprise if Fields elected to go elsewhere with that being weighed heavily.
Fields is also reuniting with one of his favorite targets while he was quarterback at The Ohio State University, and that is Garrett Wilson. While returning to Pittsburgh would have talented skill players in the previously mentioned Metcalf and George Pickens, Wilson and Fields have two years of chemistry already in the books.
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Former Ohio State Buckeye Justin Fields calls an audible during the Fiesta Bowl.
After giving up a 2025 conditional sixth-round pick to acquire Fields last offseason, the Steelers didn't have significant capital invested in Fields. However, they did spend all season coaching him, working with his fundamentals, and reading the field. While that time investment doesn't seem like much on the surface, it is unfortunate the team doesn't get a chance to see any returns on it.
While these agreements can't become official until the new league year starts on March 12th at 4pm EST, it is unlikely that Fields would have a shift back to Pittsburgh with an agreement already in place to go to New York. Crazier things have happened, but Steelers fans shouldn't hold their breath if they are waiting for that pipe dream.
Steelers' Future At Quarterback Likely Won't Be Obtained In 2025
With Fields off the market, it is very unlikely that the quarterback of the future for the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be on the roster in 2025. Whatever direction the team decides to go, the options available are all veterans who only have a few years left as starting quarterbacks at most, and maybe in the NFL all together. That would lead many to look at the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts to see what quarterback prospects might be the Steelers' quarterback of the future.
USA Today
Former Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart celebrates after winning a big time bowl game.
The 2025 draft class has been consistently downplayed as one of the weaker classes in recent memory, but the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett at 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft -- which will likely go down as one of the weakest classes of all-time. So just because a class is deemed weak, doesn't mean the Steelers will ignore that position. They have been linked to a couple of names, including Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough in particular, who might be on the table depending on where they fall in April.
Should the Steelers ignore the quarterback position early in this year's draft, the 2026 quarterback draft class is expected to be a deep class with several quarterbacks going early. Arch Manning is obviously the name everyone is familiar with as the top option as of today, but other guys such as Nico Iamaleava and Drew Allar won't be ignored by scouts looking for the next elite NFL quarterback as well. Needless to say, whoever is under center for the Steelers in 2025 is likely a bridge quarterback that they believe gives them a good chance to make a deep playoff run right now.
Do you think the Steelers should've been more aggressive with their contract offer for Justin Fields? Let us know in the comments below!
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