The Steelers quarterback room is once again one of the biggest question marks heading into the offseason. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields flashed at times, but they also failed to get this team over the hump. Both of their prices are set to increase this year as well, and the team is only likely to keep one of them.
That said, I think there is a far better solution at quarterback for the team in 2025. Simply put, I don’t think either Wilson or Fields is the long-term future for this team. Sure, they could serve as transitional options, but both play well enough to win games even if they aren’t good enough to get this team back on track.
So what should the Steelers do? The best option is to always draft and develop your franchise quarterback. Easier said than done, but when this pans out, you become a continual Super Bowl contender.
Unfortunately, this draft class looks putrid at quarterback.
I’m not sold on either top name, and even if I were, Pittsburgh is in no position to make a move for them. The crop afterward screams scheme-specific or career backup. This isn’t a class that I think you can find your franchise option outside picking as late as the Steelers are.
The Steelers should reset their quarterback room in free agency
The best solution for the Steelers is to completely dismantle this quarterback room once again. While Fields gives them the best shot to win next year while you can likely expect much of the same from Wilson, it won’t move the needle for this team. They likely struggle in January but are good enough to not have a top pick to address quarterback.
This upcoming free agency class features a crop of quarterbacks that came from a filled draft class four years ago. To this point, none of them have panned out. They have been traded and viewed as busts by most of the NFL given their immense struggles, and now they enter free agency for the first time.
The Steelers should be buyers.
One man's trash is another man's treasure and for the trio of Mac Jones, Zach Wilson, and Trey Lance, all three would be my target in the offseason. All three have the pedigree and traits you would look for in a starter, but they haven’t put everything together yet.
Jones is the most accomplished, but he also is the closest to his ceiling. He can work the short and intermediate game but struggles to push offenses forward. He is a game manager, but that could work in an Arthur Smith offense.
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Trey Lance was supposed to be the next big thing, but a poorly timed injury and the emergence of Brock Purdy led to him being dealt to the Cowboys where he served as the third-string quarterback. He has the most tools of the three, and he can win on the ground.
Zach Wilson flamed out with the Jets before being dealt to the Broncos to serve as their backup this year. He has all of the arm talent you want, but his accuracy, pocket presence, and decision-making are bad.
So why do I want all three of these options in the Steelers quarterback room next year? Competition and desperation bring out the best in players, and you would have that with all three options. A true three-headed quarterback room is rare, but Pittsburgh lacks answers right now, so they should try to see what can stick for them.
All three would like the chance to earn a starting role, and their best for that would likely be Pittsburgh. Jones will likely have the biggest market as he can be an accomplished backup if worst comes to worst, but none of these three should have an annual salary over $10 million.
This keeps the quarterback room cheap while you try to sort all of this out. In turn, you can invest your resources to other needs, giving these players the best shot at turning their careers around.
Once training camp opens, you rotate between the three to see who you want to start. The competition will naturally sort itself out, and whoever you feel the most confident with gets the start in week one. From there, the leash is relatively short to keep competition alive.
Your best case scenario is one of these players pulls a Sam Darnold and revitalizes their careers. In that case, you have the franchise tag (assuming they are on one-year deals) and you can work on a new contract.
More than likely, all three fall flat and this team will struggle in 2025. That isn’t the end of the world though, as it puts you in a position to draft someone in a 2026 class that, right now, looks better at quarterback.
While expecting even one of these names to prosper in 2025 is a stretch, past players have shown that the right team can make a world of difference. If they fail, you have draft opportunities in 2026. While it would put Mike Tomlin’s winning season record on life support, it would best set up the team for long-term success.