ESPN insiders take strong stance on Steelers QB situation, best offseason moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers started Justin Fields at quarterback in the first six games of the 2024-25 season. Although Fields wasn’t posting eye-catching passing numbers, the Steelers went 4-2 with him as QB1.

However, after Russell Wilson recovered from a calf injury he suffered in training camp, he took the starting spot from Fields and posted a 6-5 record in the final 11 games of the regular season. With Wilson at quarterback, the Steelers fell 28-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Now, with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson both set to become free agents this offseason unless they reach a new deal with the Steelers, fans are questioning who will be the team’s QB next season. On Monday’s episode of Get Up, ESPN’s Dan Graziano weighed in on the pressing question.

“They’ve been talking to both of them,” Graziano said. “The odds are they re-sign one of them. There are people in that building that really like working with Justin Fields. There are people in that building who think Russell Wilson gives you a better chance to win now.

“I would say at this point, while you can’t rule out an off-the-board option like an Aaron Rodgers there, it seems more likely it’ll be one of the two guys they had last year.”

In his six games as the team’s starter, Fields averaged 184.3 passing yards per game while completing 65.8% of his pass attempts. What Fields lacked in passing, he made up for in the ground game, averaging 38.5 rushing yards per game and scoring five touchdowns.

In comparison, Wilson averaged 225.6 passing yards per game during the regular season but only 14.1 rushing yards per outing. He also recorded just two rushing touchdowns. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky believes the Steelers should put their faith in the younger prospect and give Fields another chance next season.

“I would prefer re-signing Justin Fields,” Orlovsky said. “Do I understand going with Russell Wilson because you think that you can win with him now, and you had Justin on the field, and you essentially benched him because the good wasn’t good enough? Sure.

“Pittsburgh, you have to get aggressive at your quarterback position to be great again. And I don’t think Russell Wilson brings that to your organization. Can Justin Fields? Maybe. We’ll see. It’s an unknown. Or, you better go get aggressive in the draft and get a player like Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss.”

The draft is always an option for the Steelers if they aren’t confident in either Fields or Wilson to lead the team next season. The Steelers have the No. 21 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.