The Pittsburgh Steelers discover themselves at a crossroads at quarterback, and the reply to their ongoing seek for stability beneath middle could not have been on their roster in 2024. Including Russell Wilson and Justin Fields didn’t stay as much as expectations, however typical knowledge suggests one in all them could possibly be the crew’s starter in 2025. Nonetheless, latest studies point out that Pittsburgh could look elsewhere for an answer.
Regardless of signing Wilson to a veteran-minimum deal and buying Fields through commerce in 2024, the Steelers stay unconvinced both quarterback is the answer to profitable their first playoff recreation since Jan. 15, 2017. As an alternative, they look like contemplating outdoors choices. If that holds true, two names have emerged as potential targets: Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford.
Pittsburgh Steelers Anticipated To Look Outdoors for a Quarterback
After a reader requested NFL insider Albert Breer who had one of the best probability of beginning for the Steelers subsequent season — Fields, Wilson, or an out of doors free agent — Breer made it clear that Pittsburgh’s high precedence remains to be to discover exterior choices.
“I’d say an out of doors QB, then Justin Fields, then Russell Wilson,” Breer mentioned. “Previous to Tremendous Bowl week, and understanding issues weren’t excellent between Wilson and the crew, I assumed Wilson loomed as a tread-water kind of possibility for the Steelers, if different efforts failed in 2025. However seeing the pro-Wilson narrative on ’25 pushed by way of? I don’t suppose that’s going over nice inside that constructing.
“In the meantime, the crew would like to preserve working with Fields. I simply don’t suppose they’ll hand him the beginning job. So the thought of Aaron Rodgers or Stafford may attraction to the Steelers. If that doesn’t work, I feel Pittsburgh seems at Fields with somebody there to compete with him.”
This report underscores that neither Wilson nor Fields have performed sufficient to lock down the beginning job. Pittsburgh should still enable Fields to compete for it, however their obvious curiosity in Rodgers and Stafford suggests they need an skilled, high-level veteran main the offense in 2025.
Would Aaron Rodgers or Matthew Stafford Be an Improve?
Whereas Rodgers and Stafford are two of the largest names in the marketplace, their 2024 efficiency doesn’t essentially recommend they’d be main upgrades over Wilson or Fields. Each veteran quarterbacks struggled statistically, posting common season QB+ grades beneath the Steelers’ two 2024 starters:
Rodgers: 72.2 (C-; twenty first within the NFL)
Stafford: 71.9 (C-; twenty second within the NFL)
Wilson: 75.3 (C; seventeenth within the NFL)
Fields: 78.1 (C+; N/R on account of solely 161 cross makes an attempt)
Rodgers, at 41 years outdated, confirmed clear indicators of decline in 2024, ending twenty first in PFN’s QB+ rankings, barely forward of Stafford, who landed at twenty second. Wilson, in the meantime, positioned greater than each at 75.3 (C), suggesting his play was higher than the 2 veterans Pittsburgh is reportedly fascinated with.
As for Fields, his 78.1 (C+) grade was the best of the group, however his restricted pattern measurement — and lack of championship expertise in comparison with the others — make it troublesome to gauge how he would fare over a full season. If given an opportunity to develop, Fields could possibly be Pittsburgh’s best choice, however the Steelers is probably not prepared to take that danger.
