Steelers "Hope To Move Forward" With Justin Fields As Team Is Desperate For Franchise QB

The Pittsburgh Steelers need to make a decision on the quarterback position within the coming weeks. The new league year for the NFL begins on March 12th, as does free agency. If the organization is set on re-signing either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, it is critical a deal gets done before free agency begins. If either quarterback is given the opportunity to test the market, the price could get driven up for the Steelers. It is hard to tell which way Pittsburgh is leaning, but a lot of signs seem to be pointing in Fields' direction.

Re-signing Fields seems like the best option for the Steelers, as the quarterback adds another layer to the offense thanks to his mobility and athleticism. He is also expected to be significantly cheaper than Wilson and a lot of the external options. The young quarterback showed a ton of improvement as a passer during his six starts with the Steelers in 2024 since his time with the Chicago Bears, and it should be expected he can take another leap in 2025 if given the opportunity. 

NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline gathered information from being at the 2025 NFL Combine, and it seems as though Pittsburgh is not interested in a top quarterback in the draft, and intends to move forward with Fields.

"The Pittsburgh Steelers have told people in Indianapolis that they are not impressed with the top quarterbacks in this year's draft," Pauline wrote. "Hence, the possibility of the team taking a signal-caller in the middle of the first round is slim to none. Several people who met with the team tell me the sense is that Pittsburgh hopes to move forward with Justin Fields, who they wanted to win the starting job last season. Of course, that means they would have to sign the 2021 first-round pick to a contract, as Fields is slated for free agency."

This is good news for a large portion of the Pittsburgh fan base, as Wilson ended the 2024 season on a rough note and Fields seems like the clear choice moving forward. The potential is sky-high with Fields running the offense, and if the quarterback can take another step forward, Pittsburgh should have a good chance of competing within the AFC.

Fields' current market value sits at $6.4 million on a one-year deal. That is significantly cheaper than the $38.7 million that Wilson is projected to get on his next contract. The Steelers currently have a decent amount of holes on the roster, and Fields' athleticism is able to cover some of that up. He can use his legs to extend plays, while also being an extension of the running game through designed quarterback runs. The quarterback ran for 289 yards and five touchdowns in just six starts for Pittsburgh in 2024.

The 2025 quarterback class is fairly weak, although the Steelers could find some value at the position on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. It is completely feasible to expect the franchise to look to find a rookie to backup Fields for the 2025 season if he is offered a new deal, and that way, the organization has two opportunities at finding their franchise quarterback.

Steelers Not Interested In A Top Quarterback In The 2025 NFL Draft

The only two quarterbacks that seem to be shoe-ins to go in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Pittsburgh will have no chance of selecting them unless they trade way up, and the third quarterback to go off the board will likely be Jaxson Dart on Day 2. Pittsburgh will likely wait until the later rounds to select a rookie quarterback, and a player that should be available for them is Will Howard. 

The quarterback room should look very different in Pittsburgh in 2025, but it seems like the organization has the desire to re-sign Fields. Hopefully a deal can get done prior to free agency opening up, or else Pittsburgh may have some competition for his services.

What do you think about Fields being the starter in 2025? Let us know in the comments below!

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