The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they had found their next franchise quarterback when they drafted Kenny Pickett in 2022, but it didn't go as planned. The team traded Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2023 season because he was reportedly unhappy they signed former Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh didn't seem to shed any tears over Pickett going and almost immediately made another quarterback trade, this time for Justin Fields.
This leaves the Steel City once again in quarterback limbo. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has said that Wilson will have "pole position" to start the season, and most agree that it is his job to lose. While the question of who will start might be answered, there are major questions about what will happen at the quarterback position in 2025.
Wilson and Fields are on one-year contracts for the upcoming season, and many wonder if the Steelers will re-work Fields' contract before the start of the season. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently joined the 93.7 The Fan and gave his opinion on the future of the quarterbacks in Pittsburgh. Fittipaldo thinks Pittsburgh might offer Wilson a reasonably large contract if he has a solid season and perhaps even wins a playoff game.
"I'm just gonna throw a number out here, $35-$37 million, so what $75 to $80 million over two years," said Fittipaldo. "I don't think you go above 40 for a guy that old. I don't know that he can expect those huge contracts that are being paid out to those younger guys."
It is a far cry from the five-year $242.5 million contract the Denver Broncos gave him. The answer won't come anytime soon. Fittipaldo doesn't believe the Steelers will sign either quarterback before the season. Neither one has played a single football down in Pittsburgh yet, and both are coming off less-than-perfect seasons, so it is hard to assess where they stand objectively.
Fittipaldo also said the Steelers have several other contract situations, like possibly extending tight end Pat Freiermuth this offseason, so they won't be in a rush. He sees it making more sense to defer those talks until we know how the season pans out. Regardless of Fields' potential, he still views Wilson as the only answer for 2024.
"You need a quarterback that is going to protect the football and make a few more plays than Kenny Pickett. I don't think you need a guy like Justin Fields right now, a guy that's prone to turnovers, a guy who hasn't really shown over the long haul what he can do in terms of what Russell Wilson can do. For this time period, the Steelers need the skill set of Russell Wilson more than Justin Fields, but down the road, who knows? For right now, Wilson is the ideal quarterback if he plays well."
Thus far, the Steelers seem really happy about what they see from Wilson. He has been taking advantage of every opportunity to workout with his teammates and making connections with the franchise every chance he gets. Wilson's dedication and work ethic continue to show the coaching staff that he will not squander this opportunity.
Both Wilson and Fields need their time in Pittsburgh to go well. They are both in a prove-it situation: Wilson wants to show he's still got it, and Fields wants to show he's only scratched the surface of his potential.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Seen Working Out With Star Wide Receiver
Wilson isn't just working out with his new teammates. He was recently spotted working out with his old partner, DK Metcalf. The two were in Seattle together at the start of Metcalf's career.
The chemistry the two had for those three years is undeniable. Metcalf had his best season with Wilson. In 2020, he had 83 receptions for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns. This will undoubtedly stir up another flurry of gossip, saying that Metcalf must be coming to Pittsburgh.
