Everyone knows the Steelers got both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this past offseason. One via free agency and the other via trade. They completely rebuilt their quarterback room on the team. Fields has been the starting quarterback for Pittsburgh during the first two weeks of the regular season which saw two wins, but the offense continues to struggle to find points.
Wilson will likely become the starter once his nagging calf injury heals. Unless Fields or Wilson can show enough to deserve a second contract with the Steelers, the team could be looking at a similar situation as last year. They might have to gut the quarterback room entirely and switch to other alternatives either via trade, in free agency or the draft.
Adam Schefter reported that the Carolina Panthers are benching Bryce Young as their starting quarterback. Andy Dalton will be taking over those duties for now. It's still early in the season, but it seems like Young might be done with the Panthers. It could be a similar situation that we saw with the Fields trade this past spring.
The Steelers could show interest in Young if Fields and Wilson fail.
Is Young as good as Fields? No. The consensus among most that watch the game of football is that Fields was a better player overall leaving the Bears than Young would be departing Carolina. If both Wilson and Fields cannot lock a future into place in Pittsburgh, then the Steelers should have some interest in Young. If he becomes available in a trade or cut scenario, it would be foolish to not do their due diligence.
Young was one of the most highly sought-after prospects coming out of the 2023 NFL Draft. Both he and C.J. Stroud were being set up for significant futures as NFL quarterbacks. Stroud has been terrific, while Young has been dismal. Plenty of blame can be placed at Young's feet, but you cannot look past the consistent failures of the Panthers since they drafted him.
They took a short quarterback when they selected Young, yet they refused to find protection for him up front. They couldn't keep a coaching structure around either. On top of all those things, Young has not been given many weapons during his time in Carolina.
It is just a bad team overall and one that should have never given up as much as they did to trade up for Young.
If Fields or Wilson show they can be the starting quarterback moving forward, then a trade for Young makes less sense. He could be a nice option to sit behind a veteran guy like Wilson and become the heir apparent when Wilson gets ready to retire. It might seem unlikely now, but this trade scenario could develop if Pittsburgh has a quarterback issue when the offseason comes.
