QUARTERBACK ROOM PREDICTIONS- Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen (PS- John Rhys Plumlee)
In 2023, the Steelers’ passing offense was downright terrible. And it seemed like no one did their job correctly. Kenny Pickett was supposed to prove to fans that he was the franchise guy moving forward, but as we saw throughout the season, that was not the case. Mitch Trubisky was supposed to be the reliable veteran back-up who could teach Pickett a thing or two and help the young man develop. But once again, Trubisky was nothing near reliable and only held back the offense when on the field. And Mason Rudolph started the 2023 season as the team’s third-string quarterback. But ended up becoming the best out of all three. This quarterback room was an absolute mess and that is why there were so many moves to fix it this offseason.
The Steelers’ general manager, Omar Khan, would release Mitch Trubisky, let Mason Rudolph leave in free agency, and made the bold move of signing 9x pro-bowl quarterback, Russell Wilson, to compete for the starting job with Kenny Pickett. However, there were reports stating that Pickett was upset with the Wilson signing. With that, Khan shipped Kenny Pickett to the Eagles in a pick swap. Omar Khan knew that quarterback was the position that was holding back the team in 2023. And so, got rid of all the problems.
The Steelers brought in Russell Wilson to do two things: Be a reliable and productive starter for the Steelers in 2024 and to teach and develop Justin Fields. Wilson is on a veteran minimum which means that he is getting paid the least amount of money possible on his one-year contract. Wilson wants to not only prove to Steelers fans but also the whole league that he is still a great quarterback. Now it is uncertain whether the Steelers want to keep Russ after this season, but it is almost certain that he will be the team’s starting quarterback for the 2024 season. Russell Wilson is an extremely awarded quarterback who will be on his third team in 4 years. Which does not seem good on paper, but that is not the whole story. Wilson spent his first 10 seasons with the Seahawks but wanted a fresh start in 2022. And so, one of the biggest trades in NFL history had Russell Wilson being sent to the Broncos with multiple players and drafts picks being sent in return. Wilson’s two-year stint with the Broncos did not go well as disagreements between coaching staff led to his release in March of 2024. While Russ’ play was not eye catching, it did seem to be under appreciated.
The Steelers also traded for young quarterback, Justin Fields. The man was selected eleventh overall in the 2021 NFL draft by the Bears. In his three seasons as a pro, Fields is second in rushing yards by a quarterback since 2021, as well as being seventh in rushing yards in 2022. As you can tell, Fields’ biggest strength is his rushing abilities. It is his passing game is where he lacks the most. Throwing 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 38 starts. While not being the strongest passer, Justin has shown flashes of being a reliable passing option. The most probable outcome for Fields would be to extend Justin and give him the starting role heading into 2025. While letting Wilson decide on whether to back-up Fields or compete to be a starter on another team. This means that 2024 will be a learning season for Justin Fields. A true opportunity to learn under a great leader. Which can lead to Fields becoming the Steelers’ new franchise quarterback heading into 2025.
Now comes the decision for the third-string quarterback. Kyle Allen has mostly been a back-up but does have starting experience. Allen has played for the Panthers, Commanders, Texans, and lastly the Bills. Allen would be a good option for the third-string role as he has experience playing under many systems. John Rhys Plumlee is an undrafted free agent out of UCF. John was a multi-sport athlete who is an athletic freak who could be developed into a good back-up. A good situation for these men would have Kyle Allen be the third string in 2024, and have Plumlee sit on the practice squad. There is a huge possibility that Plumlee could make the 53-man roster, but that could take a while.
This quarterback room is not only supposed to be better than the previous year’s group. It is supposed to shape the future for the Steelers. With Wilson’s leadership and Fields’ development, the Steelers could have their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future in their hands.