Steelers must get 2025 quarterback decision right

They can re-sign Russell Wilson or Justin Fields or take a chance on an intriguing group of free agent signall callers.

It’s not hyperbole to suggest one of the biggest decisions in Pittsburgh Steelers history is being discussed this week — if not this month and offseason — at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Not the future of coach Mike Tomlin. With three years left on his contract, he’s not going anywhere.

Not with the offensive and defensive coordinators. Change could take place, but that’s not a franchise-altering decision.

The future of the quarterback position — and whether to bring back Russell Wilson or Justin Fields — likely is dominating the meeting rooms at 3400 South Water St.

Entering such a critical juncture of the franchise’s trajectory — with a playoff victory drought dating to the 2016 postseason and a year-ending five-game losing streak — the Steelers must determine who will play the game’s most important position in 2025.

It’s a bigger deal than what the Steelers faced after the 2021 season when Ben Roethlisberger retired. The Steelers had a string of four consecutive playoff losses and were just five years removed from that last postseason victory at that point.

The streak now is six games and eight years as the Steelers have gone from Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph to Wilson and Fields. The question facing Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan and team president Art Rooney II is whether the Steelers stick with one passer from the latter group or start anew again.

The free agent class is lackluster, with Sam Darnold’s end-of-season fade likely costing him millions on the open market. Others expected to be available are starters- turned-backups such as Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston and Carson Wentz.

The Steelers could turn to the draft much like they did in 2022 when they grabbed Pickett with the No. 20 pick. The franchise holds the No. 21 selection this time. Unlike three years ago, when faced with one of the weakest quarterback groups in recent memory, the Steelers won’t have their pick of the top passer in the first round.

And given Rooney II’s stated goal of “it’s time to get some wins” in the postseason still hangs like a cloud in the air from last January, the Steelers won’t be in a mode to build around a rookie quarterback. Particularly not with weaknesses along the defensive line, in the secondary and at wide receiver.

Working in Wilson’s favor, of course, is his experience. He has earned a Super Bowl ring and came within a last-second interception of securing another. On the flip side, that transpired early in his career, much the way Roethlisberger earned his hardware in his first decade playing in the NFL. Wilson is 1-5 in his past six postseason starts.

Wilson turned 36 in November, and his productivity mirrored that of the Steelers in the final monthplus of the season. While winning six of his first seven starts this year, Wilson completed 64.8% of his passes and threw 12 touchdown passes against three interceptions for a healthy 103.9 passer rating. In the final four games of the season, his completion percentage dipped slightly to 61.8, he had four touchdowns to two interceptions and his passer rating was a ho-hum 81.4.

The Steelers also won’t be able to retain Wilson on such a team-friendly deal as in 2024 when the Denver Broncos paid about $39 million, and the Steelers were on the hook for the NFL minimum. Numbers floated in conjunction with a new contract for Wilson are in the $30 million range.

Judging by the way Tomlin talked up Fields at his season-ending press conference, it could be an indication the Steelers are leaning in his direction. Complaints about Fields being benched after a 4-2 start subsided when Wilson led the Steelers to six more wins and a 10-3 record.

Now, weighing in the totality of the season, Fields has emerged as a younger, more athletic and affordable option.

In the six games he started before giving way to Wilson, Fields completed 66.25% of his throws for five touchdowns, one interception and a 93.9 rating. He also rushed for 231 yards and five scores.

Fields turns 26 in March, and he remains the type of dual-threat option that has tantalized Tomlin for years. Because the Steelers did not exercise the $25 million fifth-year option on his contract, Fields also can become a free agent in March.

With the promise of being the starter in 2025, the Steelers could try to sign Fields at a cost that would be more team-friendly than a potential Wilson deal.

It’s a matter of how the Steelers want to spend their salary cap resources. The Steelers haven’t worried about allocating top money to a quarterback since Roethlisberger’s retirement, but this year could begin the transition to the offense balancing out the salary-cap space.

According to overthecap.com, the Steelers enter the offseason with $168 million in contract obligations to defensive players with $48 million going to the offensive side for 2025. The six highest cap hits belong to defensive players, although Preston Smith and his $12 million salary will be a cap casualty. Tight end Pat Freiermuth (nearly $13 million) and guard Isaac Seumalo ($10.2 million) are the only offensive players listed in the top 10.

The Steelers have an estimated $52 million in space, according to overthecap.com, and a new quarterback contract will take a nice bite out of that estimate. Expect the Steelers to also make a push for a top wide receiver in free agency.

After finishing with a No. 23 ranking in yards per game, the lowest of any playoff team, and No. 16 in points scored, the Steelers entered the offseason knowing improvements on offense will need to happen.

Quarterback, as it typically does, will dominate that discussion. The next iteration of the franchise hangs in the balance.