The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the offseason with many questions about their quarterback position. All the quarterbacks from the 2023 season who saw game action are no longer with the team. Pittsburgh underwent a complete makeover at the position. Early in the offseason, the Steelers made a significant decision by signing former Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum.
Shortly after, they made another bold move by trading for former Chicago Bears first-round pick quarterback, Justin Fields. The Steelers' quarterback room has dominated headlines all offseason, with pundits debating who the best candidate to start for Pittsburgh is between Wilson and Fields.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has made it clear that the plan is for Wilson to start in pole position. Fields will have a chance to compete for the job, but it appears to be Wilson's job to lose or keep. ESPN's Mike Greenberg shared his insights on the show Get Up regarding what he believes transpired when Pittsburgh signed Wilson.
"I believe that if you gave the Steelers truth serum, they'll never admit this nor should they, but if they had known at the time that they were going to be able to get Justin Fields for the price that they got him for, I don't think they would have signed Russell in the first place."
Greenberg believes the Steelers always wanted Fields, but his initial price was too high. They quickly signed Wilson because they didn't expect Fields to be available at a cost they were comfortable with. As the market humbled the Bears and Fields, the Steelers seized the opportunity to acquire him.
However, Greenberg thinks the Steelers made a mistake by not waiting for Fields' price to drop sooner. Now, they are almost obligated to start Wilson, even though Greenberg believes they would prefer to start Fields.
"I think that was at a moment in time when the asking price on Justin Fields was this [high] and the Steelers decided we're not meeting that price. If they had known that it would eventually get to be this [lower], I think they would have [traded for] him and they would have given him every chance to be their starter."
Greenberg makes a good point, but the Steelers didn't hurt themselves by acquiring both quarterbacks. Fields and Wilson were both incredibly affordable, and the team isn't locked into either one long-term. It appears the Steelers see Wilson as the best quarterback to help them win now. They informed Fields, upon trading for him, that they want him to learn from Wilson. Pittsburgh seems to believe that Fields could be the future of their franchise, but for now, the NFL views Fields as a backup, as reflected by the market.
Both quarterbacks are intriguing. Wilson joins the Steelers after two struggling seasons with the Denver Broncos. His 2023 season showed some improvement, with 26 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. Fields, on the other hand, has had mixed reviews in his first three NFL seasons. While he has shown potential, he has also made questionable decisions, resulting in 40 passing touchdowns and 30 interceptions.
Steelers Will Have A Hard Choice To Make After The 2024 Season
The excitement around Fields stems from his rushing ability. He is one of the best athletes in the NFL. If he can improve as a passer and learn from Wilson, he still has a ton of potential and is young. The Steelers appear committed to starting Wilson and giving Fields the chance to compete for the job. After the 2024 season, the Steelers will face a tougher decision about the future of the position. It will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh's quarterbacks perform in the upcoming season.
Greenberg's point is valid, but many would argue the Steelers didn't take much risk by acquiring both. They have more flexibility with both quarterbacks, leading to a stronger quarterback room. The way it played out was a big win for Pittsburgh.
