When the Pittsburgh Steelers added Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to their roster before the 2024 season, Head Coach Mike Tomlin had a definite plan for how he expected it to go. Ultimately, it didn't pan out that way, and that might have been for the best. Wilson suffered a calf injury before the start of the season that kept him from starting until Week 7. This allowed Fields to take the first team reps and start those initial games. It gave the Steelers some real insight into what Fields might be able to do if he remained the starter.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Steelers' Russell Wilson stretches on the field.
Tomlin held fast to his plan, and when Wilson was healthy, he insisted he take back over, putting Fields on the bench. Now, it seems that the initial time Fields was given may have given him the edge heading into the 2025 season. While Wilson started strong, he and the rest of the team sputtered out late in the season when faced with their toughest competition. The team went from 10-3 after Week 14 to 10-7 by the end of the season.
The problem with how well Fields did initially is that all the other teams also saw it. This is why most insiders think the Steelers will likely try to lock up Fields before free agency. The official legal tampering date is Monday, March 10th, and the official start of free agency is Wednesday, March 12th, at 4:00 PM EST. It seems the Steelers would want to get something done with Fields before other teams are allowed to start courting him.
Recently, Ray Fittipaldo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette joined The Fan Morning Show on 93.7 The Fan and was asked about a comment made by Adam Schefter. He said the Steelers would love to lock down Fields this week, and the hosts wanted to know what Fittipaldo thought.
"I don't get the sense that anything is imminent," said Fittipaldo about the Steelers finalizing a quarterback deal. "Agents use these deadlines like Monday as a negotiating ploy. I think more than likely, if we see something get done, it will be over the weekend. Listen, if it gets to Monday, I think Fields' agent is taking a real gamble if it gets to that point. I don't get the idea that the Steelers want to sit around and wait and let this get to free agency. If that is a ploy on his part, it better work, and it better get done by Sunday night because I think the Steelers would probably go in a different direction if they don't get Fields done by Monday, early Tuesday at the latest."
The Steelers haven't given a definitive answer on which direction they want to go; instead, they say they prefer to keep Wilson or Fields. Wilson is expected to cost more than Fields. In 2024, Wilson made about $39 million, the Steelers paying just over $1.2 million of that thanks to his former contract with the Denver Broncos.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Russell Wilson (3) and Justin Fields (2) lead the team onto the field.
When Wilson was winning games, most expected him to command a roughly three-year, $100 million contract, but the slide left fans concerned. Most insiders think Wilson will want more than the Steelers offer the guy who played backup for him last year.
What Would The Steelers Owe Justin Fields?
That leaves the question of what the Steelers must pay Fields to keep him. The Steelers turned down the $25.6 million extension on his rookie contract, which didn't surprise anyone.
Sam Darnold got a contract worth $10 million a year from the Minnesota Vikings, and many think that this is the ballpark for Fields. According to Spotrac, Fields' market value is $6.4 million. However, with several teams needing quarterbacks, it seems as if he will at least get into the range of what Darnold got paid. While Fields might have been benched for Wilson, he was steadily improving each week he started.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields runs with the football.
Do you think the Steelers will lock Fields up before free agency? Tell us what you think below!
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