NFL Insider Predicts Steelers Will Prioritize ‘Exterior QB’ Over Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Provides 2 Names To Watch

The Pittsburgh Steelers discover themselves at a crossroads at quarterback, and the reply to their ongoing seek for stability underneath heart might not have been on their roster in 2024. Including Russell Wilson and Justin Fields didn’t reside as much as expectations, however standard knowledge suggests one among them could possibly be the crew’s starter in 2025. Nonetheless, current studies point out that Pittsburgh might 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 Exterior for a Quarterback

After a reader requested NFL insider Albert Breer who had the most effective likelihood 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 stated. “Previous to Tremendous Bowl week, and realizing issues weren’t excellent between Wilson and the crew, I believed Wilson loomed as a tread-water sort 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 maintain working with Fields. I simply don’t suppose they’ll hand him the beginning job. So the concept of Aaron Rodgers or Stafford may enchantment to the Steelers. If that doesn’t work, I feel Pittsburgh seems to be 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 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 most important names in the marketplace, their 2024 efficiency doesn’t essentially counsel they’d be main upgrades over Wilson or Fields. Each veteran quarterbacks struggled statistically, posting common season QB+ grades under 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 go 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 interested by.

As for Fields, his 78.1 (C+) grade was the best of the group, however his restricted pattern dimension — and lack of championship expertise in comparison with the others — make it tough 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 might not be keen to take that danger.