Schefter: Steelers' Mike Tomlin Is Absolutely A "Big Fan Of Justin Fields"; Russell Wilson, Ryan Tannehill In Mix

The Pittsburgh Steelers are firmly in the market to add another quarterback to the mix for the 2024 season. Kenny Pickett has yet to show in two seasons that he's fully ready to take over, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin said at his end-of-the-year press conference that the team will be looking to bring in competition. Mason Rudolph played well for the team down the stretch to get them into the playoffs, but is a pending unrestricted free agent and could find a suitor elsewhere. ESPN insider Adam Schefter recently provided an update on the Steelers quarterback situation with one name to keep an eye on in particular. 

Schefter joined the crew on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday and gave some insight into what he's hearing and feeling when it comes to what the Steelers might do in free agency or on the trade market to improve their room. Schefter said it's pretty obvious to him that Pittsburgh is looking to add some legitimate competition for Pickett this offseason. 

"There will be a decision that they’ll have to make in terms of the quarterback they want to bring in, but they’re not just going to leave it as Kenny Pickett, his starting job. Mike Tomlin made that very clear. Now it’s which of these quarterbacks do they make a move for? Which one is somebody they can go acquire, and who fits into what they’re willing to give up to another team, or to pay that player." 

One name that Pittsburgh has been heavily linked to is Chicago Bears quarterback, Justin Fields. The 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is a hot name on the market with the Bears likely to pick a quarterback with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. ESPN reported at the start of January that the Bears would be looking for a second or third-round pick in a pre-draft trade. 

The Steelers' new front office led by Omar Khan has dealt with Chicago before in the Chase Claypool trade. This could be a good thing with the familiarity, or it could be bad if Chicago still feels it was fleeced in that deal.

"We know Pittsburgh is going to go out and get some type of quarterback. Whether that's Ryan Tannehill. Whether that's Russell Wilson. Whether that's Justin Fields," Schefter continued. "Justin Fields, I know Mike Tomlin's a big fan of Justin Fields. We'll keep that in mind during the offseason and the coming weeks."

Steelers' Potential for More Veteran Options

While Fields represents a potential long-term solution at the position for the organization, they may opt for a veteran backup who can be more of a mentor type to Pickett as they try to fully figure out if he can be an NFL-caliber starting quarterback. Schefter mentioned two names of veterans who might be a fit for Pittsburgh.

Ryan Tannehill's name has been brought up quite a bit when talking about options for the Steelers in the 2024 offseason. The 35-year-old enjoyed some of his best football when Pittsburgh's new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, was leading the offense with the Tennessee Titans. 

"There's an obvious connection between the offensive coordinator and the quarterback, and we’ll see whether anything comes of that," Schefter said.

The other name that Schefter mentioned during his appearance on the show was that of Russell Wilson. The Denver Broncos quarterback is expected to be released and hit the free agent market. Several different voices in the NFL media world have been trying to connect the dots from Tomlin to Wilson. NBC Sports' Peter King has been adamant that Wilson's next home will be Pittsburgh. Wilson has had some rough seasons in Denver since leaving the Seattle Seahawks, but in the 2023 season showed that he can at least still be serviceable. 

Pittsburgh still has a decision to make with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who is under contract for another two seasons, but can be cut for minimal dead cap money. Rudolph remains on the table, but as Schefter said, the team is looking for other options. 

Who do you think should be the Steelers quarterbacks in 2024? Comment below!   

#SteelerNation