Steelers QB Competition is One of NFL’s Most Intriguing Storylines

The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to get more out of the quarterback room this season than they did in 2023, and to do so, they completely revamped the room, bringing in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. But those guys are lottery tickets are best at this point in their careers, and not everyone is convinced that the net gain will be all that significant. But it still is going to be an offseason of intrigue leading up to the season.

Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall names quarterback as the team’s biggest question by far, stating that they are in no man’s land at the quarterback position.

“Pittsburgh Steelers fans will talk themselves into believing Justin Fields can be an effective NFL starting quarterback. The rest of the league would disagree with them. They also might believe Russell Wilson has something left in the tank. Again, the league would disagree. Pittsburgh is in no man’s land at quarterback, hitching its wagons to an aging veteran and a talented but deeply flawed fourth-year pro. There’s a chance this works out, but it’s slim,” Randall wrote.

CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan also named it their biggest question, but the intrigue of it all makes it one of the more compelling storylines across the entire NFL.

“Maybe the biggest question in the NFL at the moment,” Sullivan wrote. “Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal after the Broncos cut bait with him and it appeared like he’d be their starter for 2024. However, the Steelers then swung a trade with the Bears for Justin Fields, setting the stage for a fascinating competition between the two of them later this summer.

Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth also praised Wilson for organizing an offseason workout in San Diego. Freiermuth, Calvin Austin III, and Van Jefferson attended the workout.

“That was big time,” Freiermuth told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “He invited us to San Diego and a couple of us went there and got to work out and run routes and get to know each other. That’s big. The relationship on the field is big but building that off field is a big thing. It’s that trust you can bring over to the football field.”

Fields had two head coaches and three different offensive coordinators in his three years in Chicago. That’s an incredibly tough environment for a young quarterback to develop and grow in. Now with the Steelers he is starting with a clean slate. So far, Freiermuth has been impressed by Fields.

“Justin’s been great,” Freiermuth said on Steelers Afternoon Drive. “He came in, and he was eager to go. He looks great in workouts. You can definitely tell like him and Russ they have that ‘aura’ about them that they are ready to go and ready to lead our team. It’s exciting to be around. They are definitely awesome team guys.”

Fields took a small step forward in 2023, his third year as Chicago’s starting quarterback. The Ohio State alum threw 370 times, completing 227 for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw nine interceptions and maintained an 86.3 passer rating and a 5.29 adjusted net yards per attempt.

In 2022, he was 192 of 318 for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, an 85.2 quarterback rating and 4.63 adjusted net yards per attempt.

Since 2022, Fields has the most rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,800 yards and 6.3 yards per carry. Both figures are higher than Lamar Jackson’s.