With Justin Fields off to the Jets, the question on everyone's mind is pretty simple: What do the Steelers do from here?
Not to sound too pessimistic, but the options are not attractive. At least with Fields, there was the potential of a future. He'll only be 26 years old. There's room to grow. But now, he'll try to realize that potential with the Jets.
The closest the Steelers would have come is signing Daniel Jones. That name wouldn't have gotten people excited. At all. But, he's a former first-round pick, a great athlete that would have fit the mobile quarterback mold desired by Mike Tomlin and his passing numbers are comparable to Fields. He's also just a couple years older than Fields, going into his age 28 season.
However, Jones is signing with the Colts on a one-year, $14-million contract. So, that's no longer an option, either.
The next two options are going to make a lot of people upset, one way or another. Aaron Rodgers is not only available -- though he won't be officially released until March 12 at 4 p.m. when the new league year begins because the Jets are cutting him with a post-June 1 designation -- but he and the Steelers have had conversations about a contract.
Rodgers would bring a ton of pedigree to the quarterback position. He's a four-time NFL MVP and surefire Hall of Famer. And, his one Super Bowl victory came against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Last season, Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He's still productive. And, he gets rid of the ball quickly, which could help a developing offensive line. Last season, Rodgers' average time to throw was 2.69 seconds, the third-fastest time among quarterbacks who played at least 12 games.
The two main concerns regarding Rodgers are his age, as he will turn 42 years old before the 2025 season concludes, and his well-documented issues with coaches in recent years. At some point, Father Time catches up with everyone. Banking on even one season to avoid a potential drop off is a gigantic risk. And, well, multiple head coaches have been fired during Rodgers' tumultuous final years in Green Bay and with the Jets. That drama can't be ignored.
Of course, it's not like there won't be drama with Russell Wilson, should the Steelers entertain a reunion. Running it back with Wilson could be just as all-or-nothing as we saw last season. There'll be games in which Wilson looks like prime Seattle 'Dangeruss' Wilson, then there will be games that look a lot like what we saw during the five-game losing streak to end the season.
But, the bigger issue with Wilson is off the field. Regardless of the reasons, there are many in the organization who don't want Wilson back. Otherwise, the second Fields opted to leave for the Jets, the Steelers could have easily picked up the phone and hammered something out. They've kept the line of communication open, but it's clear that he's not even their Plan B.
But, after those three options, what else is there? Believe it or not, it gets a lot worse. You can't count on Kirk Cousins being available because the Falcons haven't given any indication they're going to part ways with him. Even if they did, Cousins did not play well last season coming off an Achilles tear the year prior. I've maintained that Cousins is one of the more underrated quarterbacks over the last decade (97.4 career passer rating), but last season cannot be ignored. Not exactly hopeful, that's for sure.
The remaining veteran options are Marcus Mariota, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Cooper Rush, Carson Wentz ... I mean, need I go on? These aren't starting quarterbacks in today's NFL. Not even bridge quarterbacks. They're quality backups.
The Patriots are reportedly going to shop Joe Milton III, but that comes with massive risk. He was a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee last year, but he also came out of college very, very raw. The talent is intriguing. He's a house at 6-5, 246 pounds. He's got a cannon for an arm. But, this is more of a guy that needs to develop, not be handed the reins to an offense and be expected to start 17 games for a team with aspirations to play deep into January.
The draft isn't the place to find one, at least not as a starter in this season. Perhaps a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick can come in and compete. But, banking on anyone but Cam Ward from this class -- and he'll be way out of reach -- would be general manager malpractice. Any of Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Ohio State's Will Howard, Texas' Quinn Ewers and Louisville's Tyler Shough can be an interesting name, but only as a late Day 2 or Day 3 pick. This is not the year to repeat 2022 history and reach for a quarterback in the first round.
Needless to say, the road ahead is rough. The Steelers were never going to find their long-term solution at quarterback this offseason. And with their most attractive option now bound to play for the Jets, it's difficult to find the light in a very clouded situation.
THE ASYLUM
So where do the Steelers turn now?
With Justin Fields off to the Jets, the question on everyone's mind is pretty simple: What do the Steelers do from here?
Not to sound too pessimistic, but the options are not attractive. At least with Fields, there was the potential of a future. He'll only be 26 years old. There's room to grow. But now, he'll try to realize that potential with the Jets.
The closest the Steelers would have come is signing Daniel Jones. That name wouldn't have gotten people excited. At all. But, he's a former first-round pick, a great athlete that would have fit the mobile quarterback mold desired by Mike Tomlin and his passing numbers are comparable to Fields. He's also just a couple years older than Fields, going into his age 28 season.
However, Jones is signing with the Colts on a one-year, $14-million contract. So, that's no longer an option, either.
The next two options are going to make a lot of people upset, one way or another. Aaron Rodgers is not only available -- though he won't be officially released until March 12 at 4 p.m. when the new league year begins because the Jets are cutting him with a post-June 1 designation -- but he and the Steelers have had conversations about a contract.
Rodgers would bring a ton of pedigree to the quarterback position. He's a four-time NFL MVP and surefire Hall of Famer. And, his one Super Bowl victory came against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Last season, Rodgers completed 63% of his passes for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He's still productive. And, he gets rid of the ball quickly, which could help a developing offensive line. Last season, Rodgers' average time to throw was 2.69 seconds, the third-fastest time among quarterbacks who played at least 12 games.
The two main concerns regarding Rodgers are his age, as he will turn 42 years old before the 2025 season concludes, and his well-documented issues with coaches in recent years. At some point, Father Time catches up with everyone. Banking on even one season to avoid a potential drop off is a gigantic risk. And, well, multiple head coaches have been fired during Rodgers' tumultuous final years in Green Bay and with the Jets. That drama can't be ignored.
Of course, it's not like there won't be drama with Russell Wilson, should the Steelers entertain a reunion. Running it back with Wilson could be just as all-or-nothing as we saw last season. There'll be games in which Wilson looks like prime Seattle 'Dangeruss' Wilson, then there will be games that look a lot like what we saw during the five-game losing streak to end the season.
But, the bigger issue with Wilson is off the field. Regardless of the reasons, there are many in the organization who don't want Wilson back. Otherwise, the second Fields opted to leave for the Jets, the Steelers could have easily picked up the phone and hammered something out. They've kept the line of communication open, but it's clear that he's not even their Plan B.
But, after those three options, what else is there? Believe it or not, it gets a lot worse. You can't count on Kirk Cousins being available because the Falcons haven't given any indication they're going to part ways with him. Even if they did, Cousins did not play well last season coming off an Achilles tear the year prior. I've maintained that Cousins is one of the more underrated quarterbacks over the last decade (97.4 career passer rating), but last season cannot be ignored. Not exactly hopeful, that's for sure.
The remaining veteran options are Marcus Mariota, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, Jameis Winston, Cooper Rush, Carson Wentz ... I mean, need I go on? These aren't starting quarterbacks in today's NFL. Not even bridge quarterbacks. They're quality backups.
The Patriots are reportedly going to shop Joe Milton III, but that comes with massive risk. He was a sixth-round pick out of Tennessee last year, but he also came out of college very, very raw. The talent is intriguing. He's a house at 6-5, 246 pounds. He's got a cannon for an arm. But, this is more of a guy that needs to develop, not be handed the reins to an offense and be expected to start 17 games for a team with aspirations to play deep into January.
The draft isn't the place to find one, at least not as a starter in this season. Perhaps a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick can come in and compete. But, banking on anyone but Cam Ward from this class -- and he'll be way out of reach -- would be general manager malpractice. Any of Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Ohio State's Will Howard, Texas' Quinn Ewers and Louisville's Tyler Shough can be an interesting name, but only as a late Day 2 or Day 3 pick. This is not the year to repeat 2022 history and reach for a quarterback in the first round.
Needless to say, the road ahead is rough. The Steelers were never going to find their long-term solution at quarterback this offseason. And with their most attractive option now bound to play for the Jets, it's difficult to find the light in a very clouded situation.
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