Steelers Urged to Sign Baker Mayfield in Free Agency

The Steelers will look hard into changes this offseason after another disappointing finish, and another area that must be examined is the quarterback position. Kenny Pickett did not take the leap they expected, which has opened up speculation to the team looking outside the organization to bring in the next quarterback answer.

Pro Football Focus believes that the answer could come in free agency. Gordon McGuiness wants the Steelers to go out and pursue Baker Mayfield in free agency to help fix their quarterback situation moving forward.

It feels very likely that Mayfield will stick around with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but on the off chance that he does hit free agency, the Steelers should be the first team to pick up the phone,” he wrote. “While Mayfield hasn’t lived up to the billing of being a former No. 1 overall pick, he is back at the level of his second and third seasons with the Cleveland Browns, earning a 74.6 PFF grade with 25 big-time throws and 24 turnover-worthy plays in the 2023 regular season.”

He’s not the only one who thinks that Mayfield should be on the shortlist of candidates to elevate the Steelers’ offense.

On NFL Live, Dan Orlovsky believes it’s time for the team to upgrade their quarterback situation. He suggested three different options the team could acquire: Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, and Mayfield.

“The number call should be to Chicago, and you’re trying to see where they stand with Justin Fields, if they’re going to take somebody at number one or keep him,” Orlovsky said. “The second call would be to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I don’t think Baker Mayfield is going to leave them, considering they are in the divisional round, but I would make that my second call. My third call would be to the Minnesota Vikings. Where do you stand on Kirk Cousins?”

Fields, Cousins, and Mayfield are all vastly different options on the career arc path. Mayfield and Cousins would cost a nice chunk of change when the team is up on the salary cap, even if they can clear space, which would come at the cost of addressing other positions. Mayfield would be a full-circle signing, but they could be someone the team likes as a proven starter in the league.