There will be plenty of teams on the search for their next quarterback this coming NFL off-season. Most of them finished 2024 in the bottom half of the league, with the lack of an elite passer being glaring flaws for certain teams. But despite being the no. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the hunt as well, as they now have zero QBs under contract for 2025.
Steelers Now Have Zero QBs On Their Active Roster
The experiment that featured Russell Wilson and Justin Fields lasted just one year, perhaps by design. After being jettisoned by the Denver Broncos, Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in 2024, and figured to be the clear-cut starter for a team starved for good quarterback play. But just one day later, Pittsburgh traded for Justin Fields, and questions arose as to who would be under center for Week 1.
Wilson won the job during training camp, but an injury elevated Fields into the starting role for the opening week. Fields would wind up starting the first six games of the year, passing for over 1,100 yards and five touchdowns to go with just one interception. But Wilson won 6 of his first 7 games upon his return to the lineup, vaulting the Steelers into first place in the AFC North for a handful of weeks.
Steelers key free agents this off-season: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, RB Najee Harris, OT Dan Moore Jr., CB Donte Jackson, WR Mike Williams, WR Van Jefferson, LB Elandon Roberts, G James Daniels, S Damontae Kazee, TE MyCole Pruitt, CB Cameron Sutton, CB C.J. Henderson, G…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2025
But he was also at the helm for the four-game losing streak that the Steelers endured to close out the regular season, as well as their Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. It has become increasingly likely that Pittsburgh will choose to go in a different direction this off-season, allowing Wilson’s deal to expire.
Justin Fields’ contract is coming to an end, as well. The 25-year-old was playing on the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, and along with Wilson is on track to hit free agency. That means that the Steelers are set to enter the off-season without a single quarterback contract on their books.
They’ll be thin at other offensive positions as well. Cordarelle Patterson is the only running back currently under contract, and there is a good chance that Pittsburgh cuts ties with him this spring. They’ll need to bring in wide receivers as well, as they have just three players at that position locked up into 2025.
The Steelers are projected to rank 15th in salary cap space in the league. They’ll pick somewhere in the 19 to 22 range in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
