The Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback conversation has many layers because of the experience level and age of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers are wired to always try to win in the present with future considerations taking a back seat, so it makes sense that Mike Tomlin turned to Wilson even after a 4-2 start with Fields. But what the Steelers do ahead of free agency next season will be fascinating.
One of the big reasons why many wanted the Steelers to roll with Fields, is the fact that he is 25 years old compared to Wilson at 35. Fields offers the potential to be a long-term solution at quarterback. On the other hand, Wilson has repeatedly stated that he wants to play football into his 40s. If that’s the case, he still has at least one more good contract in him.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo thinks the Steelers will ultimately choose to extend Wilson and not Fields following the 2024 season.
During a short question-and-answer session on 93.7 The Fan’s Joe Starkey Show, Fittipaldo said “no” when asked if Fields would receive a new contract and “yes” for the same question about Wilson.
Back when Wilson signed with the Steelers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insider Gerry Dulac reported that both Wilson and the Steelers were open to exploring a contract extension following the season. Dulac reiterated that report just a week or two ago during one of his fan chats. Wilson also reiterated his desire to play into his 40s via The Rich Eisen Show last week.
The question then becomes what would that contract look like for Wilson? His last deal with the Denver Broncos in 2022 was five years for $245 million. That is an average annual value of roughly $48.5 million. The quarterback market has exploded since then with mega contracts signed by Dak Prescott and Jordan Love. Obviously Wilson won’t be able to command top-of-the-market money at 36 years old next year, but Kirk Cousins is making $45 million per season with hefty guarantees at the same age.
That will be a tough thing for the Steelers to stomach for Wilson, whom they are paying just $1.21 million in 2024 because the Broncos are picking up the rest of the tab.
Fittipaldo stated his belief that the contract would come in well below $40 million per season and speculated it would be “right in that ballpark” of $30 million per year. That would make Wilson the 20th highest-paid quarterback in the league, just ahead of Geno Smith, pending other contracts that could happen around the same time. If Wilson keeps up his current level of play, I don’t think that $30 million figure is very realistic.
Could this end up swaying the Steelers to do business with Fields instead? There are reportedly many within the organization who like him. He is younger, but they could probably do a shorter-term contract with less guarantees and a lower average annual value based on what he has accomplished in his career so far.
This will be one of the biggest and most impactful decisions the Steelers make next February or March.
