The Steelers head into 2025 with one of the most uncertain quarterback rooms in the NFL. While the team got great play out of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at times, both have historically struggled, making a long-term deal risky. As well, both are free to test free agency if they would like unless the team gives them the franchise tag. It is a tricky spot to be in for Pittsburgh.
I’ve outlined six realistic ways that the team can treat this room this offseason. Getting this position right will be pivotal for the long-term success of the Steelers. The right quarterback on the right team can turn a culture around quickly. Likewise, a poor fit can set a franchise back for years. Here is my ranking of the best ways to treat the quarterback room in 2025.
6. Steelers bring in a new veteran
An upheaval at the position last year led to a lot of new faces in the quarterback room. This was a big risk, as no one was familiar with the team or the structure of the offense. While that risk paid off, it wasn’t an expensive one. Doing that again in 2025 would be costly and not make a ton of sense.
Looking over the free agent market, there aren’t a lot of great names, as is common for a free agency class. Sam Darnold looks like he has put things together, but he is throwing to the best receiver in the league and had yet to show much as a starter before that. Beyond that, the only other new name that makes any remote sense would be Jameis Winston, he has failed to be a consistently good starter in the league.
While I will disclose more about who I think makes sense for the Steelers to bring back next season, moving on from both Wilson and Fields is a bad choice. Both showed some good traits worth keeping around, and it isn’t like there is a better option sitting on the market to target instead, making this route easily the worst option for the team.
5. Steelers bring back Fields and add veteran competition
While I was hoping for Fields to show out this season, it never really happened. Yes, the Steelers won with him at the helm, but they simplified the offense and his play got worse as the season progressed. This offense was another beast once Wilson took over, so it makes it hard to get behind Fields as the starter next season.
If they do go this route, they will want another capable veteran behind him who can step in if he flounders. Winston could work in that role, while an elderly Joe Flacco or even Jimmy Garoppolo could serve as the second option. Fields would be in the “pole position”, but if he doesn’t live up to expectations, you have a capable name behind him.
The issue with this is, why would you go out of your way to extend the quarterback that you benched? The offense wasn’t bad with Fields, but it was better with Wilson. This would be a tough sell, as you would want to ink Fields to a multi-year deal, but the value will be hard to project. A slight upgrade from a brand-new face, but still not a great path.
4. Steelers rebuild the quarterback room
These bottom three options are all unlikely, but of the three I could see the team trying to throw as much mud at the wall if Wilson isn’t retained. They did it last year, and it makes sense that they would try it again if needed in 2025. Arthur Smith has a very quarterback-friendly system, so it could work.
You would start with a young free agent option looking to rebound their career. Trey Lance and Zach Wilson stand out as obvious names, but Mac Jones could also be in the running for this role. You would want to add a veteran with some starts to their name as well even if they are seen more as backups. This would be a Drew Lock or Jarrett Stidham type, who is looking for an opportunity to start.
Finally, you would likely draft someone (I’d guess somewhere in the 3rd-5th round) and add another veteran backup (Kyle Allen level) to fill out the room. The hope is that good competition yields one of the four to be a competent starter and someone that you can invest in the long term. More than likely, you have a bad season and set yourself up for the 2026 quarterback class.
3. Steelers take a quarterback in the first round
Like it or not, even with the re-emergence of Wilson as a good quarterback, this team is still lacking an elite passer, and more importantly, they don’t have a long-term answer at the position. The only bad thing about Wilson playing well with the team is that, if he leaves, you aren’t in a great position to draft a quarterback in a class that is lacking pro-ready options.
The Steelers will likely be picking somewhere in the 20s, which means they will miss out on Shedur Sanders and Cam Ward. There are quarterback prospects I still like, but none of them would classify as pro-ready, which is an issue when that guy would be expected to be the starter sooner rather than later.
If the team went down this route, they are likely going to need to take Carson Beck. His season hasn’t been that good, but he looks the most ready to command a team from day one. I’m not against taking a quarterback early (more on that soon), but they need time to sit and develop if they want a chance to succeed.
2. Steelers bring back Wilson and add a young veteran backup
The top two options both involve retaining Wilson, which just makes too much sense. He has ignited the offense since taking over as the starter and is playing similarly to his Seahawk days. While his best years are behind him, he has single-handedly made this team a competitor. It would be foolish to let him walk.
READ MORE: Steelers must break this long-standing precedent with Russell Wilson ASAP
He won’t have Fields behind him if he returns though, and given his age it would be nice to have someone with some fresher legs with the potential to be more behind him. Don’t kid yourself, most veteran castoff quarterbacks won’t turn their careers around, but it is still worth taking that shot.
Either of the aforementioned duo of Lance or Wilson would make sense to me. If they wanted too much money, you could go lower level with a Kyle Trask or even Drew Lock. The best-case scenario is they can learn and develop into something while Wilson is still capable. At worst, they back him up as the team searches for their quarterback of the future.
1. Steelers retain Wilson and draft a rookie early
My favorite and most likely scenario is similar to the last point. Again, the Steelers need to find a way to ink Wilson to a new deal, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they need a quarterback of the future. This draft is filled with quarterbacks that have a lot of great traits, but lack the refinement of a finished product.
While I typically advise against taking quarterbacks on day two as the hit rate is abysmal, if the class remains as is, I think there is logic there. Quinn Ewers sticks out as a favorite of mine. A big arm that can make every throw, but he lacks the technical skills of a great quarterback. A couple of years on the bench behind a veteran like Wilson could turn him into a good quarterback.
Other raw names that stick are Garrett Nussmeier and Drew Allar. Neither should be viewed as day-one-ready players, but both have the traits to be competent NFL passers. This option gives you the best of both worlds. You get the immediate and capable starter back, but you also get a solid developmental option to train and grow as Wilson’s career winds down.