Steelers Facing Hard Deadline on Quarterback Decision
The Steelers clock is ticking with little room for error to figure out the quarterback position for the 2025 season.
On Saturday, Alan Saunders provided an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation. According to sources, the Steelers and Justin Fields remain far apart on a contract that would keep him from testing free agency. Coupled with Russell Wilson drawing outside interest, Monday afternoon will be a pressured one for Omar Khan and company.
Despite the pressure, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that the Steelers will get their quarterback situation figured out quickly on Monday. Not only could the Steelers match an offer for Fields or Wilson, but Pittsburgh’s front office has quickly worked out deals during the free agent contact period – including recently.
Many fans will remember it as an overall negative experience, but Mitchell Trubisky’s representatives agreed to terms within the first hour of the free agent contact period in 2022. Additionally, the Steelers agreed to terms with players like Patrick Peterson during the 2023 negotiating window.
The Steelers know Fields and Wilson have some type of market once the clock hits noon EST on Monday. However, they will also be able to engage with agents of players such as Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, and even Daniel Jones at that time as well.
If the Steelers somehow don’t land any of the free agents on Monday, a trade may be in order–and the pickings are slim there. In fact, calling them slim is generous. Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr won’t be traded. Geno Smith already has been. There’s not much else out there.
Guys that could be acquired may be, at best, someone like Joe Milton or Malik Willis. Neither of those options would be what Pittsburgh would want to walk away with as a starting quarterback at this point.
So that brings us back to Monday’s noon negotiating window. Pittsburgh will not only want the position solidified by early afternoon, but they will also want to negotiate terms with other offensive positions such as receiver and running back.
Regardless of who it will be, the Steelers’ priority on Monday will be getting the 2025 quarterback position wrapped up. If they can’t get something solidified by Monday evening at the latest, it will be a very long offseason.