8. Daniel Jones
Much will have had to have gone wrong for the Steelers to look at Daniel Jones as a viable option. Jones’s career with the New York Giants came to a disastrous conclusion when the team abruptly released the former first-round pick in the middle of last season. Jones spent the rest of the season as the Minnesota Vikings’ third-string quarterback and is now expected to be elsewhere for the 2025 season. It is unlikely that Jones will be a starter in 2025 unless somebody is forced into desperation.
7. Kirk Cousins
The 36-year-old Cousins is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro. Cousins had a career-high 16 interceptions and had his lowest passer rating in a season in ten years. His play had gotten so poor that the Falcons chose to bench him for rookie Michael Penix Jr. in Week 16, even though Atlanta was still within reach of a playoff spot. At this point, Cousins is likely nothing more than a bridge quarterback for a team that plans on drafting a rookie.
6. Derek Carr
Derek Carr had a solid season in 2024 despite missing seven games with multiple different injuries. Carr threw for 2,145 yards and 15 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. His passer rating of 101 was the highest he has had in a season since 2020. Carr will, however, turn 34 later in March. He is also under contract with the Saints until after the 2026 season, meaning that Pittsburgh would have to trade for him.
5. Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson is still good enough to be a starter in the NFL—an above average one at that. The problem for Pittsburgh is that we already saw what Wilson is capable of with this offense. Wilson went 6-6 as the Steelers’ starter in 2024, including five consecutive losses to close out the campaign. Bringing Wilson back will do little to inspire hope for a fanbase that is tired of first-round playoff exits.
4. Aaron Rodgers
The years left in Aaron Rodgers’ NFL career can be counted on one hand. With that being said, there are worse options on the table than bringing in the oldest active player in the league. Rodgers’ stats last season were still good. He threw for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and had 3,897 passing yards. He also managed to start in all 17 games despite suffering an Achilles heel injury in 2023. Rodgers isn’t an awful option, even though he has no shelf life to speak of.
3. Draft a QB
Barring something unforeseen, the Steelers will not be able to draft either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. That leaves Jalen Milroe and Jaxson Dart as the most likely options should Pittsburgh choose to find their signal-caller of the future via the draft. Fortunately for Mike Tomlin and company, there is a reasonable chance that both Milroe and Dart will be available past the first round, allowing Pittsburgh to beef up their roster in other areas before addressing their need at QB.
2. Justin Fields
Fields went 4-2 as Pittsburgh’s starter in 2024, including two wins against teams that would go on to make the playoffs: Denver and the Chargers. Fields showed many flashes that he could be the team’s long-term QB, despite dealing with inconsistencies in the offensive playcalling, the O-Line, and the skill players. Many fans were against benching Fields for Wilson and even came to feel that sentiment again once the season had soured down the stretch. If the Steelers let Fields go, they risk him becoming a franchise QB for somebody else.
1. Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold is easily the best free agent quarterback in 2025. Darnold is coming off a career season, having had 4,319 passing yards to go alongside 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a passer rating of 102.5. The Vikings are likely to pivot to second-year quarterback JJ McCarthy after spending a first-round pick on the former national champion in Michigan. That leaves the Steelers and every other quarterback-needy team keeping tabs on Darnold as their ideal quarterback of the future. Pittsburgh has $73.4 million in cap space in 2025, giving them a solid chance at landing Darnold should they want to.
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