The Pittsburgh Steelers made major quarterback moves in the offseason. This leaves us with one main question. Who will be the starter by the end of the season?
General manager Omar Khan acquired Russell Wilson on a one-year veteran’s minimum deal worth $1.2 million. After they released him, his former team, the Denver Broncos, will pay the remaining $37.8 million salary.
Khan also acquired Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears for a 2025 sixth-round pick. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is slated to be Wilson’s backup to start his Steelers career.
The Steelers moved on from and traded 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old started 24 games in two seasons with Pittsburgh but never turned into what the team hoped he would. Pickett will back up Jalen Hurts in Philly.
All signs point to Wilson beginning the season as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, but could Fields take over that role this season? Wilson has been one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL since he entered the league in 2012 with the Seattle Seahawks. He’s been to nine Pro Bowls and helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory. The 35-year-old is the NFL’s No. 19 all-time passing yards leader and No. 13 in touchdown passes. Those days might be behind him.
The Broncos acquired Wilson in a trade in 2022 and eventually signed him to a five-year $245 million extension through the 2028 season. He spent two seasons as the starter in Denver, where he owned an 11-19 record before being released and joining Pittsburgh.
Fields, on the other hand, has begun to show flashes of why he was selected in the first round a few years ago. His first NFL season was underwhelming. Fields started ten games with a 2-8 record, with only 1,870 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He also threw ten interceptions. Fields was able to make an impact in the running game, rushing for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
The 2022 season was much better for Fields. The Bears’ 3-12 record was not good, but Fields threw for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also added an impressive 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
In 2023, Fields set career highs in passing yards and completion percentage, along with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games. He ran the ball a little less, but he still scored 657 yards and four touchdowns.
Russell Wilson Isn't Guaranteed To Be The Starter In 2024
The Steelers don’t have to be committed to Wilson as the starting quarterback if he or the team is struggling. They aren’t paying him an absurd amount of money, which would’ve forced them to ride him out if they were.
Fields is ten years younger than Wilson and heading into his fourth NFL season. He’s been improving each year, and he could provide the Steelers offense with more playmaking ability than Wilson can at this point in his career. We may see Fields as the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.
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