Hope remains that either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson can answer the bell and become the starting quarterback of the present and future for the Steelers. Wilson has been out with an injury and Fields has gotten plenty of opportunities. He has played smart football heading into Week 3, but he hasn't helped the team win games in any other facet. Fields need to show more to keep the job.
Wilson will likely start once Pittsburgh loses games or Fields starts to throw the ball to opposing defenses. The offense remains pretty boring as they try to not shoot themselves in the foot rather than take some risks and extend their leads. If neither Fields nor Wilson becomes an obvious choice for an extension this offseason, then the Steelers could be reconstructing their quarterback group again.
Steelers should circle these quarterbacks as potential trade options
Kyler Murray
Starting the list strong here with Kyler Murray. The Arizona Cardinals need to finally figure out if he is their quarterback of the future or not. He plays well in stretches, but he has yet to remain consistent throughout an NFL schedule. The Steelers would be making a bold move here as Murray has an unmovable monster cap hit through the 2027 campaign.
A trade for Murray would be a big swing if he became available. Besides the cap hit, many have wondered what his commitment level to the game of football is. He is an athletic freak at the position and would be a tremendous fit in Arthur Smith's offense. This quarterback just seems like someone Tomlin would love to have on his team. Murray would be an upgrade over Wilson or Fields.
Will Levis
If the Steelers rebuild at quarterback, then they could take a similar approach to this past offseason. They could sign a veteran and trade for a former high draft choice. Will Levis is still early in his career and is known for having a strong arm. He has been making some terrible mistakes with the Titans through the first couple of weeks of the season. His Head Coach seems unhappy, and it could lead to a divorce.
Levis could be a nice option for the Steelers to have in their offensive schematics. He provides mobility and is not afraid to make contact. His stats won't wow you, but he hasn't played on the best teams in Tennessee. A trade to Pittsburgh could make sense, and it shouldn't cost much in either cap space or trade assets. Getting a young guy with starting experience would never hurt a team.
Bryce Young
Hard to look past the Bryce Young situation in Carolina when you imagine potential trade options for the Steelers next year if Fields and Wilson fail. Young was just benched for Andy Dalton after the Panthers traded a slew of assets to get the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to take him. He is a small player for the quarterback position, but his career shouldn't be completely written off yet.
His situation isn't completely similar to Fields, but it is possible Young could do better in a stable environment that Pittsburgh could provide. Maybe he shouldn't be a starting quarterback to open the season in this scenario, but he could take time to learn behind a veteran and potentially take over at some point next year. Young has a lot of work to do if he wants to turn his career around.
Kirk Cousins
Saying it's been a bumpy start to Kirk Cousins's career with the Falcons is an understatement. They picked a quarterback in the first round to eventually replace him, and his performance has been up and down through the first two weeks of the season. He seems to be rusty right now. If Cousins is unable to keep Atlanta in the playoff race, then Michael Penix Jr. will start sooner or later.
Tomlin would love to add Cousins to his team, especially if he becomes available via trade. It might not be a perfect fit in the Steeler's offense, but Cousins would provide veteran leadership and someone who has a wide array of starting experience. Adding him and someone like Levis or Young would be fairly close to what the Steelers did this past offseason by adding Wilson and Fields.