Pittsburgh Steelers ownership said less than two months ago that it was intent on bringing back either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields as the starting QB in 2025, but the likelihood of either outcome has significantly decreased in the weeks since.
Several reports out of the NFL combine, held annually in Indianapolis at the end of each February, indicated that Pittsburgh was leaning heavily in the direction of Fields. But just days later, the Steelers sent a second-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for star wide receiver DK Metcalf, signing him to a $150 million extension and pairing him with the talented, but volatile, George Pickens.
That receiver group and its optimal style of play pointed the team in the direction of Wilson, given his superior skill set as a passer when compared with Fields. The latter and younger of the QBs saw the writing on the wall and left for a $40 million deal with the New York Jets, replacing Aaron Rodgers in the starting role and seemingly securing Wilson as the favorite to start for an improved Steelers offense in 2025.
However, Rodgers has since emerged as a candidate to ink a short-term deal in Pittsburgh and elevate what has recently been a perennial one-and-done playoff team to the next level in the postseason.
Field Yates of ESPN dropped his newest prediction for the top 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft, analyzing draft projections in conjunction with free agent action to answer some of the league's most relevant questions -- one of which involves which veteran quarterback will be at the helm in Pittsburgh once all the dust settles.
"I'll say the Steelers [sign] Rodgers as they reshape their offense. Wilson was fine last season, but Pittsburgh has to take a swing to be better than 'fine' as it tries to snap its streak of playoff losses (currently five straight games)," Yates wrote on Monday, March 10. "While Rodgers is only a short-term option, he provides an upgrade over both Wilson and Justin Fields."
Yates added that he doesn't expect the Steelers to draft a QB in Round 1 given the relative weakness of this class, though that doesn't mean Pittsburgh won't look at the position later in the proceedings.
"I believe the top two quarterbacks will be gone by No. 21, and my QB3 -- Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart -- has a second-round grade," Yates continued. "If I'm Pittsburgh, I would not reach for a player who most likely wouldn't start until at least 2026."
