The Pittsburgh Steelers intend to extend one of the two quarterbacks they recently added to the locker room this week. The Steelers made several moves at the quarterback position this week.
The Steelers signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson to a veteran minimum contract and named him the starter for the 2024 season. The announcement of Wilson as the Steelers’ QB1 agitated Kenny Pickett, so Pittsburgh traded the 2022 first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
With Pickett gone to Philadelphia and the other signal callers from last season on to other AFC teams (Mitch Trubisky signed with the Buffalo Bills, and Mason Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans), the Steelers needed a QB2. They traded a conditional sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Justin Fields.
The Chicago Bears wanted Justin Fields to start again
Bears general manager Ryan Poles reportedly wanted to trade Fields to the Steelers so Chicago’s former first-round pick would eventually have a chance to start for Pittsburgh. The Bears even left an offer on the table Saturday for better draft capital compensation to trade Fields to the Steelers because of Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation.
However, the Steelers appear to be moving in a different direction at quarterback than Poles thought they would when he executed the trade. (The Bears have something on the line with the Steelers’ QB1 decision. If Fields plays 51 percent of the Steelers offensive snaps in 2024, the Bears will receive a 2025 fourth-round pick.)
The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to extend Russell Wilson
According to Gerry Dulac with KDKA, the Steelers “intend” to extend Wilson at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Russell Wilson signed a one-year contract with the Steelers for the vet minimum because the Broncos were paying him $39 million in 2024. But Wilson and the Steelers intend to do a longer deal at the end of the season, per sources.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 16, 2024
One should take Dulac’s report to confirm that the Steelers have no intention of picking up Fields’ fifth-year option.
Does Fields have a chance to earn an extension?
The Steelers seem to think Wilson is their guy before the season. Fields is heading to Pittsburgh with much yet to show the Steelers staff if he wants a chance to unseat Wilson.
Wilson has an opportunity to play out the rest of his career in Pittsburgh. However, if he struggles again like he did during the 2022 season in Denver, it’s possible Fields could have the opportunity to start.
If the Steelers are willing to consider extending Wilson in the following offseason, could Fields get the same opportunity if he gets the chance to play in 2024?
The Steelers are dangling a carrot in front of Wilson before the upcoming season. They’re letting him know the job is his—and, more importantly, the job is his to lose.
Dulac’s report should give Fields hope if he can work his butt off in Pittsburgh this season. With Diontae Johnson traded to Carolina, it won’t be easy for whoever starts behind center in Pittsburgh. The good news: There’s a contract extension at stake.
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