The Pittsburgh Steelers have a bleak outlook on the 2025 season until the quarterback situation gets resolved. Both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson started games for the team in 2024, and each player looked good at certain times while playing different styles of football. The issue for the Steelers is that both players are slated to hit free agency, and it remains a mystery on which quarterback the organization will look to bring back. Team President Art Rooney II made it clear the organization wants to see one of the players back in the black and gold, but didn't specify which.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Russell Wilson and Justin Fields during practice at the end of the 2024 season.
The quarterback position is the biggest question the Steelers will be facing throughout the 2025 offseason. The only current quarterback under contract is Skyler Thompson, who will be on the fringe of making the final roster, but could be in line to be the emergency quarterback. The Steelers should be expected to pursue a rookie quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, and recent comments from Rooney may give a hint to fans about what the organization might be thinking.
"I think that it is hard to manage a quarterback room with quarterbacks with such different styles," Rooney said. "I think going into next year, I'd like to see us go in with a quarterback room that, whatever it is, you have two quarterbacks who can run the same system."
This is an interesting comment from Rooney, and it shows that the organization has a clear goal with its quarterback room. The position will become more clear once the first domino falls, which will be a new contract for either Fields or Wilson. The team will then find its backup quarterback through free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images
Will Howard celebrates during the National Championship.
If the organization decides to bring back Wilson, he would be the presumed starting quarterback. He is not as mobile as he once was, and there are clear differences between what he can do on the field and what Fields can do. The two quarterbacks could not run the same system in 2024, and that is something the organization wants to fix. If Wilson is brought back, the team will likely target a quarterback who can make difficult throws and has the ability to extend plays, just not at the same level as Fields.
A player that will be in the 2025 NFL Draft that fits this criteria is Ohio State quarterback Will Howard. He is likely a bit more mobile than Wilson, but overall, the two have similar skill sets. The organization has already been said to be intrigued by Howard, so he seems to be a real possibility to fulfill the backup role in 2025 if the organization decides to select him with a mid-round draft pick.
Will McLelland / Imagn Images
University of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on the run during a collegiate football game.
Steelers Have A Clear Path At Quarterback If They Re-Sign Justin Fields
Fields is the more exciting option when it comes to evaluating the choices at the quarterback position. He played well in Pittsburgh during the 2024 season, as he led the team to a 4-2 start to the year. He seemed to take a serious step forward in his passing from his time with the Chicago Bears, and his talents as a runner are undeniable.
If the organization decides to bring back Fields, the quarterback that makes the most sense to match with him would be Alabama's Jalen Milroe. Milroe is an exciting, raw prospect. Throughout his college career, he was often the best athlete on the field, and his running abilities should be able to translate to the league. The only worry is obviously his passing. He has a strong arm, but struggles with consistency when it comes to accuracy and evaluating what is going on on the field.
Both potential rookie quarterbacks mentioned should be available in either the second or third round, and maybe even later. With the quarterback position being in question, it is hard to imagine the organization would pass up on either option if given the opportunity to select them at a reasonable spot in the draft.
What do you want the Steelers to do at quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
