The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the splashiest teams of the NFL offseason.
Not because they threw money around like drunken sailors, but because of what they did to address the quarterback position.
Fair or not, the Kenny Pickett era is officially over in Pittsburgh.
Replacing Ben Roethlisberger 2.0 Pickett in the Steel City is failed-Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson.
(Well, that’s assuming that Wilson will be able to hold off Justin Fields for the spot during training camp…)
Regardless, there is clear respect between the two big-name quarterbacks who have been competing both with and against each other throughout the offseason.
“I think there’s a great obligation in this game, for me personally, to continue to give as much knowledge as I know. … I’ve always been a huge Justin fan,” Wilson said of Fields.
“It’s been great just learning from him every day … The way he acts around his teammates. He’s been great. A great teammate to me. A great mentor to me,” Fields said of Wilson.
We’ll see how all of this turns out. But for Pittsburgh, signing the hungry-Wilson to a low-risk, high-reward $1.21 million deal made all the sense in the world.
Also low-risk, high-reward was their trade for Fields.
While expected to be the backup, it’s safe to assume Fields will see a little bit of playing time in 2024 – potentially in some Taysom Hill-type packages.
Head coach Mike Tomlin is excited for some good old-fashioned competition between the two.
“We’re not resistant to competition, but as I’ve mentioned several times of late, I just think it’s appropriate to establish positioning – and the term that I’ve used is Russell has pole position,” Tomlin said earlier this offseason.
“And why do I use that term? Because during this time where we are not formally working, I just think it’s beneficial. His experience in the National Football League, his process has been honed and perfected.”
“All the things that people really committed to winning do this time of the year, Russell has those resources, that structure,” Tomlin continued. “And so that’s why I say he has pole position. It just creates a synergy that I think is good for this time of year.”
“When it’s time to compete and we get in training camp-like settings and we’re going to stadiums and so forth, obviously Justin will be given an opportunity to show people.”
As Tomlin said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with healthy competition … It 100% brings out the best in everybody.
But what does the future hold for the Steelers long-term?
Of course, Wilson and Fields will have every opportunity to prove their value to Tomlin and company. Who knows? – maybe Wilson will be able to turn back the clock and resurrect the old Seattle Seahawk Russell Wilson…
Regardless, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that the Steelers could very well be interested in Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
With no extension agreed to (yet), Prescott is set to enter the final year of the four-year, $160 million deal he previously signed with the Boys.
While owner Jerry Jones has stated publicly that he has no intention in letting Prescott leave Dallas, reports indicate that the two sides are far apart in negotiations.
“I’m thinking of Pittsburgh,” Fowler said on “This Is Football.”
“Russell Wilson…he’s on a one-year, $1 million minimum deal, right? And Justin Fields doesn’t have his fifth-year option picked up. Maybe he’s (Dak Prescott) a long-term answer.”
In 2023, the Steelers managed to secure a playoff berth with a 10-win season, despite rotating through three quarterbacks: Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, and Mitch Trubisky.
Since then, Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans, and Trubisky was released before rejoining the Buffalo Bills as Josh Allen’s backup.
Of course, the Steelers hope that Wilson can get back to playing at a high level and hold down the fort for at least a few years.
However, it would be foolish to think that the front office isn’t at least keeping their eye on possible long-term answers – including Prescott.
The Steelers have struggled with consistent quarterback play since 2018, the final year of a fully healthy Ben Roethlisberger.
Remarkably, despite these challenges at the most important position in all of sports, the team has not endured a losing season during this period.
Considering their strong defense and all of the weapons they have on offense, you could make the argument that Pittsburgh is just a legitimate quarterback away from being (real) Super Bowl contenders.
The fact of the matter is we still have an entire season to play before any serious decision can be made.
Perhaps Prescott ends up working out a long-term agreement with the Cowboys and this entire topic becomes irrelevant.
Hey, maybe Wilson somehow regains his old MVP-ish form and proves to be the stable answer in Pittsburgh.
A whole lot can and will happen over the course of the coming season…
What are your thoughts on Fowler’s comments?
Assuming he ultimately becomes a free agent, should the Steelers seriously explore the possibility of bringing Prescott aboard?
Where do you stand with Dak? … Are you one of his many critics? Or do you think he gets a bad rap and is actually an elite quarterback in the league?
What are your realistic expectations for Wilson/Fields and the Steelers this season?
When it’s all said and done, who will be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback one year from now???