The Pittsburgh Steelers added quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson last offseason, giving both lengthy opportunities to start in 2024 on one-year contracts. With both signal-callers hitting NFL free agency, the club faces a new decision on who will be its starter in 2025.
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, there are a lot of options. On the trade front, the Atlanta Falcons are willing to move Kirk Cousins. In NFL free agency, there are experienced starters like Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Jameis Winston.
Related: Russell Wilson eyeing NFC team if he leaves Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers could also use this offseason as an opportunity to land their quarterback of the future. While the 2025 NFL Draft class isn’t loaded at the position, there are some developmental options like Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe. However, there already appears to be an early front-runner to be the Steelers starting quarterback next season.
Who will be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback next season?
Senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote that he believes Fields has the early edge over Wilson to be the Steelers starting quarterback in 2025. While both signal-callers are open to returning to Pittsburgh, the team’s preference seems to be Fields.
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It’s also been reported by Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda. Pauline wrote that the sense around the league is Pittsburgh “hopes” to move forward with Fields next season. While he lost the starting quarterback battle to Wilson, the organization does seem to prefer him as the better of the two options for next season.
- Justin Fields stats 2024 (ESPN): 93.3 QB rating, 5-1 TD-INT, 1,106 passing yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 65.8% completion rate, 289 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns in 10 games
The Steelers’ stance on Wilson versus Fields also seems to be shared around the league. Ahead of NFL free agency, the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants have all been linked to the former first-round pick.
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To his credit, Fields showed improvement as a passer early in the season as the Steelers starting quarterback. He compiled a 93.9 QB rating with a 66.3 percent completion rate, a 5-1 TD-INT ratio and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt in six starts with a 4-2 record. It was a noticeable turnaround from his time with the Chicago Bears – 82.3 QB rating, 60.3 percent completion rate and 10-28 record – boosting his stock around the league.
While there will likely be more competition for Fields than Wilson, Pittsburgh can offer him familiarity with the added benefit of playing for a team he can win with. Other teams, particularly the Jets, Colts and Giants, might give him a shot at the starting job but he would not be the preferred option.
