Steelers Fans Get Reasonable Response To The Team Going After Best Free Agent QB: "I Don't Think They Want To Do That"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently eating up headlines with the organization's search for its next head coach, but there are other important questions about the team going into the 2026 offseason aside from the coaching staff. The franchise has some roster decisions to make with a lot of key veterans on the team, and the quarterback position is up in the air for the third offseason in a row. It is more than likely that Pittsburgh will have another different starting quarterback in Week 1 for the sixth consecutive season, and fans should be paying close attention to who could be in that role.

The quarterback position is arguably the most important in all of sports, and Pittsburgh has been struggling at that spot ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. Immediately after his retirement, the organization tried to replace him by drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but that didn't work out and Pickett was traded after two seasons with the team. Another quarterback in that draft class that was being considered by Pittsburgh was Malik Willis, and he has had a somewhat successful NFL career and is hitting free agency during the 2026 offseason. Beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Christopher Carter spoke on the chances that the Steelers sign Willis.

"I've heard that people who are still in the organization right now liked Malik Willis then, and like him now," Carter wrote. "The question will be whether Willis will command what the Steelers deem to be an unreasonable contract in free agency. The Steelers weren't trying to tie themselves to Justin Fields for too high of a price last season over multiple years and I don't think they want to do that this year. But Willis does have interesting upside. If they can get him for a reasonable range, I think he will certainly be at the top of their list."

Carter believes that there are people in the facility in Pittsburgh that like Willis enough to fight for the team to sign him, and a lot of that decision is going to come down to the coaching staff. However, it is worth noting that the Steelers were interested in him in 2022, which could play a factor.

Willis is probably the top free agent quarterback on the market. That is assuming Daniel Jones signs a new deal with the Indianapolis Colts. There are some other veterans with more experience on the free agent market, but Willis' potential and youth has him at the top of the market. His demand could be high as there are plenty of quarterback-needy teams around the league, and the draft class in 2026 is not strong in that regard.

Pittsburgh wouldn't give too much to Willis, which was evident from the way the franchise handled Justin Fields during the 2025 offseason. According to Spotrac, the market value for Willis sits at roughly $10 million a year, and he is expected to sign a one-year deal in that range. That seems like a fine number, but it will be negotiated upwards as the young quarterback is going to be a hot commodity in free agency.

Steelers Will Have Strong Competition For Malik Willis

Willis filled in nicely for the Packers during the 2025 season, and the quarterback is going to get a ton of looks from teams in free agency. The Packers will also probably try hard to keep him in Green Bay. Other teams that could show some interest include the Miami Dolphins, who are likely moving on from Tua Tagovailoa. Miami also just hired two members of the Packers organization to run its franchise.

Other quarterback-needy franchises that could present issues for Pittsburgh are the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cleveland Browns. 

What do you think of Pittsburgh's chances to land Willis? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation