The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struggling to find the answer to their quarterback woes ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired. They ultimately wasted a first-round draft pick on Kenny Pickett in 2022, only to trade him to the Philadelphia Eagles two years later. When the Pickett experiment failed, the team brought in two veterans to shape the quarterback room: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
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Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett during practice.
During the 2024 season, Fields and Wilson got a shot at leading the team. Fields went 4-2, and Wilson finished 6-6 (including the playoffs) after a decisive 6-1 start. Now, the Steelers are left wondering how to move forward. The 2025 NFL Draft isn't considered a strong one for quarterbacks, so few believe Pittsburgh will try to move up to select one.
That leads most insiders to think they will keep Wilson or Fields as a bridge while they search for their next franchise guy. However, there are concerns that Head Coach Mike Tomlin isn't capable of developing a young quarterback.
Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show agreed with recent comments from Roethlisberger while speaking with the PM Team with Poni and Mueller on 93.7 The Fan that the team isn't just a quarterback away from winning. The hosts asked Kaboly if he believes Tomlin has an issue with quarterbacks and letting them do their thing.
"I never thought about it that way but yeah I guess," Kaboly admitted. "I don't think he likes the rookie aspect of guys, the younger guys. That's why I think when Roethlisberger quit or left, he really wanted to have a guy who was more experienced."
That makes sense with how Tomlin continues to bring in veteran quarterbacks to help support younger ones on the roster. When they drafted Pickett, they also signed Mitch Trubisky and allowed the veteran to start, giving the rookie time to develop. When Trubisky wasn't winning games, Tomlin ultimately benched him in favor of Pickett.
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Former Steelers quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett.
However, other teams have young quarterbacks come in and perform at a high level. Show host Andrew Fillipponi asked Kaboly if he feels that rookie Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels would have done as well in Pittsburgh as he has in the Nation's Capital.
"Probably not," Kaboly said. "But they've got an upper-echelon offensive coordinator, a star running back, a star receiver."
While the Steelers defeated the Commanders in Week 10, Daniels bounced back. The team won its first playoff game since 2005 and is headed to the NFC Championship Game. Commanders Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is considered among the best in the league, and weapons like wide receiver Terry McLaurin surround Daniels. The Steelers failed to secure another powerful receiver to partner with George Pickens in 2024, making the offense easier to defend.
The Washington Post
Steelers rattle Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in Week 10 of 2024.
Kaboly added that he takes what Roethlisberger says with a grain of salt. He feels the former Super Bowl winner embraces this whole "media thing" and consistently changes his stance. He said that two years ago, he was sold on Pickett. He added that he has also endorsed Wilson, Fields, and even Trubisky at some point since he left the team. He said that makes him feel he can't fully trust his evaluation.
Should The Steelers Ride With Fields?
When Tomlin decided to sit Fields for Wilson, people thought he was crazy until they began to lose one game after another. Now they have to decide who to keep, and Wilson no longer feels like a surefire choice.
Roethlisberger recently said the team should stick with Fields and give him another shot. While Fields has areas he needs to work on, he presents a low-risk, high-reward option. The fact that he is familiar with Arthur Smith and the offense is a bonus. He might be the best short-term answer if they have a healthy offensive line and bring in some new weapons.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Mason McCormick.
