The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a quarterback signed beyond the 2024 season. Assistant general manager Andy Weidl explained to reporters on August 15 that the team’s plan is to see how both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields perform during the season before making any long-term decision. On August 31, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio proposed a different plan — sign Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Florio argued the Steelers may be interesting in moving on from both Wilson or Fields after 2024. Florio then laid out how the team could land Prescott for less than market value.
“The Steelers could choose to fire both [quarterbacks], depending on what happens this year. They cleared out the quarterback depth chart after a playoff berth in 2023. They could do it again,” wrote Florio.
“Would they pay Dak market value? Here’s the thing about free agency. Dak could choose to go to a team and a coach for less than market value.
“After having Jerry Jones try to persuade him for years to take less than he could get elsewhere, Dak could stick it to the Cowboys by choosing to take less from one of their biggest AFC rivals.”
Prescott, who finished second in MVP voting last season, will be an unrestricted free agent in March.
Florio included the Steelers on a list of seven teams who “might” pursue Prescott this offseason.
Could Russell Wilson, Justin Fields Spend Only One Season With the Steelers?
Whether the Steelers express interest in Prescott completely depends on how Wilson and Fields perform this season.
When the team first added each quarterback this offseason, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac suggested either one could land an extension before the season. That hasn’t happened, though, and Weidl indicated in the middle of August that the team is comfortable waiting to see how 2024 goes.
Wilson will begin the season as the starter. But if he doesn’t perform or the team doesn’t win, pundits are likely to push for Fields to enter the lineup. Fields was largely the national media’s preferred choice for the job during the preseason.
In Florio’s hypothetical, the Steelers would have to bench Wilson for Fields. Then, Fields would have to struggle too.
That’s certainly possible. Wilson hasn’t registered a winning record since 2020, and Fields is 10-28 as an NFL starter. Both quarterbacks have struggled with sacks the past three years.
Could Dak Prescott Be a Steelers Target?
Over eight NFL seasons, Prescott has never posted a losing record in a season where he started more than five games. He’s also made three Pro Bowls.
In addition to his second place in MVP voting last year, he made second-team All-Pro after leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes.
Although he hasn’t taken the next step in the playoffs, Prescott is a franchise quarterback. Next March, he could be one of the rare franchise quarterbacks who reach free agency.
“Owner Jerry Jones said there won’t be a new deal for Dak before the season starts,” Florio wrote. “There’s no reason for Dak to do a deal during the season or immediately after it. Before he stays in Dallas, he owes it to himself to figure out what’s behind Door No. 2 or Door No. 3. Or Door No. 4.”
If the Steelers start from scratch again at quarterback, Prescott figures to be the best available on the free agent market.
Money is a potential obstacle for the Steelers signing Prescott. Spotrac projected Prescott to receive a new contract with an average annual salary north of $55 million. That would make him one of the highest-paid NFL players.
But in Florio’s proposal, the Steelers wouldn’t need to worry about money with Prescott because he would accept less to “stick it” to the Cowboys. But it seems highly unlikely Prescott would sign for less than market value if he truly has seven suitors as Florio also suggested.
However, if the Steelers bottom out this fall, the best move forward may be to draft a quarterback. That will especially be the case if they hold a top 10 selection in the 2025 NFL draft.
Pittsburgh’s own first-round pick hasn’t been in the top 10 since 2000. If it’s that high next spring as the result of poor quarterback play, then the Steelers could pass on paying Prescott and start fresh with a rookie.
For Florio’s suggestion to be possible, the Steelers will have to win enough games not to hold a high pick but yet still want to make changes behind center.
