The Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate for a quarterback, but the outlook at the position raises concerns. Art Rooney II expressed his desire to bring back either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields on a multi-year contract. Last year both quarterbacks were on cheap deals, and the price will rise significantly to keep either QB in Pittsburgh.
Even if one of these signal-callers is retained, it feels like it's all for not. The AFC is loaded with quarterback talent and Wilson collapsed against good competition down the stretch—losing five straight games and scoring 14 points per game to close the season (including the playoffs). Meanwhile, Fields was benched after Week 6 for Wilson and never got his job back.
But there may be an unforeseen QB candidate on the horizon who could revive this stagnant offense.
In Albert Breer's latest column, the Sports Illustrated Insider suggests that 'Matthew Stafford's future with the LA Rams is uncertain'. Though Stafford is still under contract through the 2026 season, the 37-year-old quarterback has a roster bonus coming his way and a cap number reaching nearly $49.7 million in 2027, per Over The Cap.
Breer notes that Stafford's time with the team could be coming to an end and adds 'teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers or Giants certainly will pay attention to how this plays out.'
Steelers should call the Rams about a Matthew Stafford trade
We don't know what the Pittsburgh Steelers would be getting if they traded for Matthew Stafford at this point. We saw how washed-up Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins looked in their old age in 2024. Do the Steelers really want to go from one aging Pro Bowler to the next?
Though it may not sound enticing when you put it like that, Stafford would offer a significant upgrade over Wilson.
Despite his age, Stafford is still a tremendous pocket passer with poise and accuracy. This aided him to 3,762 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns in 16 games this past season while helping wide receivers Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp to some phenomenal performances.
While Stafford will have a high cap number if he stays with LA, his $23 million base salary in 2025 and $26 million salary in 2026 would be a bargain (and the Steelers may even have to throw him a bone by restructuring his deal with a signing bonus or more guaranteed money).
It's hard to predict what Stafford would cost in a trade. Though he's in the final stages of his NFL career, he's coming off another respectable season and teams have shown they are willing to pay a premium for aging QBs in trades.
Regardless, looking for a spark with Stafford could be the best option. Cameron Heyward turns 36 years old this offseason and T.J. Watt will turn 31 early in the 2025 season. The time to make one final push at a Super Bowl run is now, and Stafford has a recent Super Bowl win under his belt.