Pittsburgh Steelers Expected To Decline Justin Fields' Massive 5th-Year Option

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked fans by entirely sweeping out and refilling their quarterback room during the 2024 offseason. The most surprising change was the trade of Kenny Pickett after drafting him in the first round in 2022. Instead, they put their faith in two veterans: Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.

Wilson is in a fairly straightforward situation; he will play in Pittsburgh for the veteran league minimum while still making a lot off his previous contract from the Denver Broncos. It is unlikely he would want to play beyond 2024 for the minimum, so this is almost a "prove it" year for him. On the other hand, Fields is finishing his rookie contract from the Chicago Bears. 

Now, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Steelers are expected to decline Fields' fifth-year option. Schefter broke the story in a social media post on X. 

"League sources do not expect the Steelers to pick up the $25 million fifth-year option on quarterback Justin Fields, whom the team acquired last month for a conditional 2025 6th-round pick. Fields and Russell Wilson both now will be entering the last year of their contracts." tweeted Schefter.

The Steelers have to officially decide about Fields' fifth year before the May 2nd deadline. That is an easy call, despite the fact that they have never seen him play a single snap in black and gold. The option would be worth an estimated $25.6 million for 2025. That's the kind of money successful starting quarterbacks are making. Fields isn't even projected to start in 2024; instead, he will be learning behind Wilson. 

Of course, it is entirely possible that Fields will beat out Wilson and earn the starting spot, but as of right now, both quarterbacks are big question marks. Both Wilson and Fields are coming from situations where their organizations may not have set them up for success. It is still too soon to tell if Wilson has lost the talent that took him to two Super Bowls or if Fields' raw abilities can be polished into something NFL-worthy. 

In addition to bringing Wilson and Fields on board, the Steelers also signed Kyle Allen, a veteran last with the Buffalo Bills. Currently, it appears that Allen will be the third string behind Fields and Wilson. 

Could The Steelers Draft Another Quarterback?

The Steelers have a lot of needs in the 2024 NFL Draft. They ideally have to find a wide receiver, center, offensive tackle and a cornerback. Recently, during their pre-draft press conference, General Manager Omar Khan and Head Coach Mike Tomlin refused to shut down the idea that they still might draft a quarterback to add to the room. 

Khan told reporters they currently have three quarterbacks, all on one-year deals. He also hinted they might work out a new contract with Fields for 2025, or he would become a free agent. As for bringing in a rookie, Khan wouldn't definitively answer, but said the team has to remain open to all possibilities.  

The Steelers did visit with Michael Penix Jr. from the University of Washington for a Top 30 visit. While some Steelers reporters have indicated that the Steelers are not interested in Penix despite the visit, if he fell to the right spot for Pittsburgh they could take a chance on a rookie with a lot of upside. 

What do you think about the Steelers declining the option on Fields? Are you surprised? Who do you think will win the starting job? Do you think they will draft a quarterback? Would you want them to? What do you see in the future for Wilson and Fields? Let us know in the comments below!

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