NFL Insider Claims ‘Interesting Changes’ Are Coming for Steelers
NFL insider Josina Anderson dropped a cryptic tweet at midnight, claiming that per discussions at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to make some “interesting changes” this offseason.
That was it. It was very vague, but it will be something to monitor as the free agency starts next week.
Pittsburgh currently has $60 million in cap space, which is the fourth-most in the AFC. And there’s still moves to be made. Overall, the Steelers have the eighth-most cap space in the NFL, according to Over The Cap. So the Steelers have the flexibility to make a splash at cornerback, wide receiver and defensive line, or perhaps they’ll make a shocking move at the quarterback position.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan indicated on Tuesday that solidifying the quarterback position before preseason is their priority. On Wednesday, it was reported that the Steelers are still in discussions with Russell Wilson’s representatives on a possible contract.
This comes even though, as 93.7 The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi reports, sources indicate Wilson is currently commanding a higher annual salary than Justin Fields. While Khan indicated all options are open until someone is under contract, this report may suggest there is a preference–but Pittsburgh is staying flexible.
Fields should have a robust market. The dual-threat quarterback could land with other teams, such as the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.
Fields started six games for the Steelers last season, going 4-2. Analysts have already linked him to the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans this offseason.
The possibility of the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a quarterback in the first round is “slim to none,” per Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.
The team has told people at the NFL Scouting Combine they are not impressed with this year’s QB class. The current sense is the team wants to move forward with Justin Fields, according to Pauline.
“Seven people who met with the team tell me the sense is that Pittsburgh hopes to move forward with Justin Fields, who they wanted to win starting job last season. Of course, that means they would have to sign the 2021 first-round pick to a contract, as Fields is slated for free agency, Pauline wrote.
Fields reportedly has one demand if he’s going to re-sign with Pittsburgh, and that’s a realistic shot to start. That wasn’t the case last season when Russell Wilson was in pole position to start and eventually replaced Fields in Week 7 after he recovered from his calf injury.
“This one’s complicated because I do know there’s some sentiment in the building for bringing back Justin Fields,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said on SportsCenter last week. “Both sides, Fields and the Steelers, are certainly open to a potential reunion. Fields wants a realistic shot to start. He wants a clear path to be the guy for a full season, which he was not last year.”