The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of things that they need to figure out with their roster, but as General Manager Omar Khan previously said, the first thing they need to get done is find their starting quarterback for 2025. Both him and Owner Art Rooney II voiced their desire to re-sign either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, with recent reports saying that they prefer the latter option. Once that gets done, then everything else should open up in free agency. However, they are running out of time to get a deal done.
Once the Steelers figure out who their quarterback is, then they can figure out which receivers best fit their scheme and make the quarterback most comfortable. In his weekly Q&A chat, insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked about the possibility of Khan signing the newly released Davante Adams. If the Steelers execute Plan A, it seems like that won't happen.
"Another package deal with [Aaron] Rodgers? This is what Khan was talking about at the combine when it comes to signing WRs in free agency," explains Fittipaldo. "It depends on the QB. If it's Rodgers, then it makes a ton of sense to get Adams. But if it's Fields, it wouldn't make as much sense. I do know this: Adams knows how to run the red line."
Adams and Aaron Rodgers made magic all throughout their time with the Green Bay Packers, and that connection led the New York Jets to trade for the wideout while trying to jump-start their struggling unit. The chemistry is still there, but both were obviously on a steep decline, especially Rodgers.
If Adams is having issues with his favorite quarterback, then giving him a lot of money to play with an erratic quarterback might not be the best decision. The stats were still there, as he had 854 receiving yards and seven touchdowns with the Jets, but an amazing two-game stretch inflated those numbers quite a bit.
The Steelers showed how little they trusted Fields in 2024, which led to him having to do a lot of dink-and-dunk plays, as opposed to letting him improve his mid-range game. Of course, they really showed their hand by benching him after Week 6 and rarely letting him get any more playing time. With that in mind, the team would likely rather get a short-range wideout, as opposed to a receiver that uses the whole field.
Obviously, the Steelers need to let Fields work every read on every route if they truly want him to develop and be a guy they can rely on, but getting an aging receiver that seems not very comfortable without his main quarterback is likely not the recipe for success. There are other guys out there that fit the Steelers mold more than Adams.
One thing the Steelers did let Fields display is his rushing ability. He could run with any personnel package, whether it was designed or not. Pittsburgh has always prioritized receivers that can block, but with a quarterback that can run in an empty backfield, the need for a big, physical wideout that can help in the run game is even more of a need now, and Adams is not much of a blocker.
Steelers' Potential Draft Plans Could Help With The Scheme
Obviously, there is a lot of time between the start of free agency and the draft, but there are still scouts working to find the right fit for the Steelers. They have been linked to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, and he is exactly what the Steelers want: somewhat versatile, good blocker, and a reliable wideout all around. Even if they sign quality blocking receivers, Egbuka would be a great scheme fit for a Fields-led offense.
