As a lukewarm quarterback draft class awaits, several teams need 2025 starters — either for bridge or longer-term purposes. Holding the No. 21 overall pick, the Steelers profile as a team interested in a veteran to keep the reins beyond next season, and it would appear they have a clear preference.
Several reports have pegged the Steelers as ready to retain Justin Fields and separate from Russell Wilson. Only beginning negotiations this offseason (due to a long-held Steelers rule against in-season talks), the team has been in contact with both players.
Unlike other QB-needy teams, steady reports tying the Steelers to outside free agents have not emerged. An either/or plan with Wilson and Fields has long been in place. Fields is more than 10 years younger than the player he primarily backed up last season, but being a clear-cut backup to becoming the same team’s preferred starter option is a somewhat strange arc for a fifth-year quarterback.
Fields, however, has also been connected to other teams. The Colts, Giants, Jets and Raiders have come up as suitors looking into the former first-round pick, and CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala indicates the Fields market appears to be rising. PFR’s No. 8 free agent in this class, Fields could have an option to venture to a team willing to pay more than the Steelers. Though, Pittsburgh could be left scrambling in that scenario. Fields’ market is about to put the Steelers to a test, as it may take more than the team initially planned to keep the 2024 trade acquisition.
Fields has spoken highly of the Steelers, per Kinkhabwala, but the veteran reporter also notes an issue may remain between the young quarterback and Mike Tomlin. Support from players and some assistants existed to keep Fields in the starting lineup after Wilson’s calf healed last year, but Tomlin overruled them, confirming he “acted alone” when it came to giving Wilson his job back. We have heard for several months about the support Fields has gained in the organization, but Kinkhabwala refers to potential “distrust” when assessing Fields’ 2024 Steelers season.
After benching Fields once Wilson recovered by Week 7, Tomlin never turned back to him save for a few package plays. The veteran HC preferred Wilson’s superior passing skills. For a while, he was proven right; the Steelers, though, lost their final five games.
This component would seem to be significant, especially if Fields’ market proves to be robust. Indianapolis, Las Vegas and both New York teams join Cleveland and Tennessee in needing at least a bridge quarterback. The Titans have been connected to Sam Darnold, joining the rest of this lot — save for the Colts — but Fields is two years younger and has three-plus years of starter experience.
While he did not exactly wow as a passer in Pittsburgh, reminding of his Chicago tenure, the Ohio State product is one of the best runners the position has ever seen. Although the Steelers will need to see more from Fields as a passer, he stands out on this year’s FA market due to his age. Darnold, Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and perhaps Kirk Cousins will be available, with Daniel Jones also in the mix. The Steelers could pivot to another QB, but they are in need of some stability — after their Kenny Pickett plan failed — moving forward.
The perennial contender would not be securing immediate access to having an upper-echelon QB if it re-signs Fields, as the Steelers will be viewed as a low-ceiling team until they prove otherwise. But options are limited regarding young players with upside in this market. Fields’ eventual landing spot and his price will be one of this free agency period’s top storylines.
Maybe Mike is regretting this comment: After the Steelers’ win against the Jets, when asked if starting Russell Wilson was one of his boldest decisions, Mike Tomlin cheekily responded, “That’s why I’m well-compensated”.
The Steelers will have the worst QB room in the league
How about Seattle for a terrible room …. there are about 28 teams that would just love to have Justin Fields and trust me justin fields will be the number QB1 in Pittsburgh in 2025 … AND WILL TAKE OFF!
And the Penguins will make another Stanley Cup run too!!!! I appreciate your optimism, but couldn’t disagree more.
Please don’t tell me 28 teams to start. Fields is a bottom third QB
Or it was his even more arrogant Justin was good but good is the enemy of great”
Agreed. I tend to think neither Wilson or Fields are in a hurry to sign here. I also think both harbor some level of alienation; Wilson by being handcuffed after lighting up the Bengals and Fields for being benched and used sparingly.i have to laugh—national media targeted both of these guys as potential Steelers last year at this time. Now they are pushing Rodgers
Dear God
It saved them relinquishing the higher draft pick to the Bears so I’m all for him leaving for another team out of spite.
Fields didnt exactly have alot of teams that wanted him last season. He was lucky to go to PITS. Wilson was the better option for a playoff run.
He only ever played for the Chicago Bears one of the worst franchises in the NFL given a chance to play for Pittsburgh he was 4 and 2 ten touchdowns one interception I don’t care what you say THAT BOY IS gonna take off in Pittsburgh
Fields is who he’s always been and that’s why the Bears traded him. As this article points out, the biggest draw he has is his age. If that’s not grading on a curve, I don’t know what is. And while there may be ways for that same Steeler coaching staff to make modest improvements in his game, don’t put your money on him suddenly becoming a franchise level QB.
They were 4-2 with Fields because of the D and running game. He could barely throw for 150-200 yards in most of them. He took bad sacks amd barely moved the offense at times. Which is why they switched to Wilson. If you think they’re going to take off all of a sudden, best of luck to you.
If Fields leaves, so much for the “players’ coach” and he needs to leave too.
Just can’t see Fields taking them (or anyone) to a SB. And Wilson seems passed his prime to do so. That said; if there’s no clear alternative out there, Wilson again?
I don’t think Ben in his prime could do it either, Jeff. So many holes here. Yeah, it starts with QB but they have problems in every area, including coach.
Like “problems in many areas”. I’m curious to see how they use the 60 mil cap space.
Probably should have just stuck with Fields last year and found out what they had in him instead of wasting time with The Ghost of Russell Wilson, huh?
Well, thing is, we got to see what they had in Fields. Wilson cratered as expected towards the end, but Fields wasn’t exactly great or consistent either. I personally thought that they may as well have rode Fields a game or two longer, but then again, Wilson played great against the Jets and Giants in those two games. Neither of those guys were going to last the whole year playing well, though. To be really honest, if Fields ended the year in Pittsburgh, I think that we have this same discussion with Wilson being the “should have started more/sooner” option.
Really, Pittsburgh needs a QB, and neither of these guys are much of a full year starter. The Steelers may as well keep Fields, and if they do get a starter in one of these free agents who is better, then he can be a backup. If they don’t get anybody, Fields can try to show what he can do…again. It doesn’t look like there’s savior in the draft this year, but Pittsburgh will be in heavy competition with a few others for 2026-unless they do panic and go the Pickett route again by picking a questionable QB this year.
I watched the games. They put training wheels on Fields and then wrapped him and his training wheels in bubble wrap.
Maybe he’ll be a disaster without the training wheels, but let’s know for sure.
I can name 5 QB’s with more physical talent than Fields, I cannot name 10. You don’t give that guy A chance. You give that guy EVERY chance.
I want to agree with you, but every time I review the stats or watch some of the film, I just can’t see it. Wilson, for all of his own inconsistency, at least could give you multiple passing TDs a game. Fields did have some opportunities for big plays, and missed badly. He made a few, but missed on too many easy ones. That’s less frustrating than the easy misses would be for a coach. If they did slap training wheels on him, I could see why. You can’t open up the playbook for someone who can’t do one, two, three consistently. Granted, Wilson wasn’t great either, with his “I know better-DEEP SHOT!” audibles that he fell back into at a higher clip, especially later in the year.
But I do think that Fields showed what he was capable of-an occasional big game to give the team hope-in against Indy-and then two or three replacement level performances with under 200 passing yards (like his next two, against Dallas and Vegas). Ironically, his game against Dallas, where Fields only went for 131 passing yards, was his only game of the season where he threw more than a single touchdown (he threw two). That wasn’t even his lowest yardage total of the year, though-against Denver, he went for 117. One TD. Luckily for Pittsburgh, Bo Nix wasn’t great either even worse in that game, and they suffocated the Broncos’ offense to pull it out. Fields’ only game over 250 yards was that Indy game, but he only came 5 yards short against the Chargers, which was a quality start. Those two games were really the only distinguishing performances, and they weren’t bad (even great in the case of the Colts).
Wilson had some severe games himself, with four games under 200 yards-but he also had four over 250 passing yards. He also had five with multiple TDs. So, he did give the Steelers more offense, even if it wasn’t consistent enough to end up being much good. At this point, it isn’t even the potential highs that one has to consider with Fields-it’s the limitations that he puts on your passing offense. Tomlin basically said as much when he was benched, and you can see it on the field.
Is Fields hopeless? No, I don’t think so, I think you’re right on that. But I do think that he showed what he can do, both in Pittsburgh and in Chicago with an offense dedicated to him (supposedly). He could engineer a grand change, sure, but we’ve seen a lot to suggest that he won’t ever develop the consistency to make him that much more an individual contributor than he is now. It’s not not worth re-signing him at this point. He’s cheap and knows the playbook and players. But I do think that he’s had a decent audition to show his prowess right now.
Odds are good you’ll be proven right, but I keep hearing that Fields can’t do things I’ve actually never seen him being given a real chance to do.
Hard for me to write him off without actually seeing him fail after that.
The Bears were awful and despite the record last year, the Steelers got mediocre (at best) play from their OL and they had nothing at WR. Also, while he got better later in the year, Najee was lousy early when Fields played. He had very little to work with and still got them to 4-2.
Especially hard to write him off when the next best option is…what?
Well, that last sentence is hard to dispute. Unless you want to sign Rodgers, which many don’t, but hey, it’d be a competitive offense…
We’ll see. Maybe Fields will turn it around.
Kahn is a severely overrated GM. STILL no legit plan for QB1. Wasting a great defense.
He’s too conservative and has yet to take a big swing anywhere hence why we’re stuck in the mushy middle of mediocrity. My faith is dwindling on him
Great defenses don’t get run on for 200 twice in the same season. That’s problem one, their defense is overrated.
Highly overrated and highly over paid.
Fields and Russ both suck, good riddance.
An OL that ranks 29th in pass protection probably isn’t going to benefit any QB. The Steelers need to make significant improvements there before they draft their next QB heir or the kid will have one rough rookie campaign.
With an OL like that, the Steelers should have nailed down Fields to a long term deal while the dealing was good. Someone else will be willing to invest more, the franchise tag is out of the question. There’s almost no path to keep Justin Fields in Pittsburgh at this point.
Only a scrambling QB can play behind this line and even then, passing will be iffy, at best. I’m at a loss to understand how some say they’re improving. Jones was absolutely horrendous. It’s hard to fathom that a move to the other side will bring a great change. Moore is gone. Fautanu is a question mark.
Yeah, maybe Lamar or Mahomes would be successful here. Maybe. But there aren’t many more beyond them
Agreed. Why not go with Fields? If he’ll come back
I would rather have Fields than Tomlin at this point.
Or maybe Tomlin was right. Fields needed to sit back and watch for a year more than anything. It could only help him. The team fell apart down the stretch because the heralded defense didn’t play well the last month and a half.
Go back and watch all six games fields played for the Steelers he’s 1000 percent better than he was with the Bears and he’s ready to bust out russell Wilson was his favorite QB growing up and he just spent a year learning from him I think people will be stunned how good he is
Colts to me seem the ideal landing spot for Fields. The roster is in transition, but their line is still a major plus provided they resign Kelly & Fries. Imagine allowing Steichen & Jim Bob to use their creativity deploying Fields and Anthony Richardson together, like in a wildcat offense that features multiple throwers. Evolve the freakin sport already!