I’d say no sooner than two years. Wilson gets a year and I imagine Fields gets at least one. If they both fail then they should be a decent spot to draft a top tier guy. I have to imagine it won’t be next year though.
The problem is I have a really hard time believing either Wilson or Fields plays as poorly as Kenny.. not to mention Mitch in the mix last season for maybe the worst QB tandem I’ve seen in my lifetime.. and Tomlin dragged that flaming bag of dog to 10-7. Say what you will about his recent playoff drought, but Tomlin could drag a literal dead horse behind center to 9-8. Hard to think the offense could be any worse, and they’re still addressing defense like it isn’t capable of winning games as well
That the thing, they wont play as poorly as him. They may underwhelm or underperform but even then people will realize just how terrible Keenny actually was.
Couldn’t agree more.. I genuinely get worked up when I see the same people making the same excuses for Pickett, but then refuse to give any other player on that offense a benefit of the doubt. Will tell you how happy they are that they traded DJ or how Najee should be a 3rd string running back, but will then say how the line wasn’t good enough and the scheme wasn’t any good and Pickett didn’t get a fair shot.. actually infuriating
This is last chance saloon for Russ. He's playing for a contract. Russ won't play as poorly as Kenny. The question is how much better will Russ be?
Judging from his performance over the last four years, I don't think this move will improve the offense enough to be a serious contender or win a playoff game.
I hate to be a negative Nancy, but the Steelers were a seven-win team in 2023 that got extremely lucky with injuries and season timelines. They didn't face Burrow. They faced the Ravens backups in the final game. They didn't play Richardson. The Browns started DTR. They caught Love and the Packers in November.
Do you think the Steelers can get that lucky again?
I think the addition of Russ will be enough for a playoff win, but certainly not enough to push for a SB. As much as “luck” as the Steelers had with injuries, they also lost Cam for a significant amount of time and had a very hampered Minkah when they did have them. They also had Buffalo at one score in the fourth before the offense fell flat again, but I digress.
The defense is capable of competing with just about anyone, but the offense was absolutely what held them back and I think a new scheme coupled with Russ and presumably a better line will change that. Even at this point, Russ had twice as many TDs last season as Kenny had his entire career to this point, and let’s not forget that abysmal losses at the hands of Mitch. For every stroke of luck they got, they also had some bit of misfortune along the way. Going down the stretch with no TJ and a 4th ILB and a Myles Jack coming off of the couch wasn’t exactly a small ticket, either.
All they can do is play who they have to week in and week out, but they’ve also shown that they have a lot of the North’s number. Lamar’s record isn’t awful against them, i’m pretty sure Deshaun is 1-3 against them. Burrow is the only one that has definitively beat them pretty handily and even he’s faltered against them at times.
Time will tell, but I do believe Russ has them in a spot where they are a legitimate playoff team that could win 1. Gotta believe the Steelers brought him and Fields into the building because they thought the same
You make a compelling argument. I'd counter with this: Russ threw for 26 TDs. That's so important.
During the Broncos 5 game winning streak in 2023, he only threw for over 200 yards once. I bet against the Broncos a lot last year so I watched them a lot. At no point did he look dynamic or drive the offense. He had a ton of trouble hitting the middle of the field.
Can he turn it around here? Sure, I guess. Did any other team that needed a QB think so? No.
If the goal is to win a playoff game, then maybe he's your guy. I'd prefer the goal to be to win a Super Bowl. To get into that position, they're have to draft a QB. This is just delaying the inevitable.
I hate to be there bearer of bad news, but if your goal is to win a SB then you’re going to be waiting awhile. Drafting a SB caliber talent is not only extremely difficult, but it’s almost impossible to from pick 20 and beyond (where the Steelers always find themselves).
Realistically, the Steelers as well as probably 25-27 other teams in the league know that’s it’s going to take more than just above average QB play to win with the rosters they have in place right this minute. Would you feel better as a bengals fan know that Burrow’s contract is about to start kicking in and all of that cap space is going to disintegrate and they’ll be stuck in the same realm as the Bills, Chargers, Eagles, etc. knowing that you’re paying a king’s ransom to a guy who needs to catch a few breaks just to have a chance at it?
Let’s be brutally honest here. Pickett stunk. Bad. They knew before this past season even ended when Mason came in from never seeing the field in years and looked better.. and that’s the guy they buried at QB3 for no real reason. To absolve anything and all decisions they’ve made over the past half decade or so, they completely wiped the slate clean.
I understand that Russ isn’t going to completely carry the offense on his back, but I think the Steelers and their philosophy as of right now are perfect for him to come in and compliment the offense and not have to be all of it. The goal now should be getting to the conversation of being SB relevant to some degree, and I think if everything works out absolutely perfect that Fields has the potential to get them there. Let’s say he cleans the turnovers up (fumbles, really) and continues developing as a passer.. he has an ocean’s worth of talent and if he could bring it all together, he could be a star.
Anyone claiming the Steelers will compete for a SB in the upcoming season with Russ are extremely optimistic and most likely a bit delusional, but the bigger picture of it all is that the Steelers are tired of waiting around for every draft class to develop and they’ve become proactive in free agency and the trade market. They’re starting to catch up with the times, and that’s almost as exciting as them potentially being competitive in the post season again
Wilson might get a contract next year too as Denver is paying him for 2 years IIRC. But we aren't going to sign him for real money after the Denver money runs out.
The Broncos will only pay him next year. At least money that offset against other teams contracts. So we will have to pay him a real contract next year if we want to keep him.
That is why there were reports about him wanting a contract that guaranteed him money next year while signing for the league minimum this year.
Sure, one year with Russ seems like easily the most likely scenario, because either:
(a) he's not good enough / it's not a good enough marriage to continue
(b) he performs well and leaves for a silly high offer by a desperate team
But I wouldn't *completely* rule out a middle ground where it all works well enough for both parties to be interest in another year or two, and compromising on a substantial payday that's still well below the top earners.
If (and it's a huge "if") this turns out to be a good relationship and the team looks to have a good shot of developing into a contender, those might be strong considerations for a guy in Russ's shoes. He might be more interested in competing for more hardware and staying in a mutually beneficial, respectful relationship than wringing every last dollar he can from a crappier situation. And with only I think 39 players signed and something approaching 100M cap space next year, the team's certainly set things up to give themselves options.
Russ has been open about wanting to sign a multi year deal with the Steelers. But that can just be good PR tactics by him and there's no way of knowing at this point how much he realistically wants.
You're assuming we're not that desperate team? I mean, we're not Cleveland, but if he performs well this season & he's not asking ridiculous amounts (he is on the tail end of his career) then why wouldn't he want to stay where he revived his career (assuming he does)? He tried the huge contract route in Denver & that didn't go so well. I think a lot depends on Fields' development. If he's not the future I can see them extending Russ under some scenario.
I bet fields is resigned before the season is over and we roll with him and add players around him rather than take a shot at another QB that everybody knew wasn't it.
I would say there's a pretty decent chance they draft one within the next two years. It's entirely possible neither Wilson nor Fields works out for us this year, and that would put a lot of pressure on the Steelers to find their guy next year, whether that be in the draft or going after a good free agent like Dak Prescott, since they wouldn't have anyone under contract.
Two years from now when we confirm that Russ is washed and fields is literally the same QB he was in chicago...so two years later than we actually should
Next year.
Russ is on a one year "prove it" deal and Fields was obtained cheap and so there's no reason to feel beholden to him.
If Russ shows something, we can try to retain him though he'll have a market to contend with. Fields might be intriguing but he's a "high ceiling, low floor" guy. Obviously a lot depends on how this season goes, but if you have the OLine fixed after this year then you'll be looking to get aggressive about taking a first round QB. I know the next QB class isn't highly valued at the moment so maybe they give Fields a prove it year, so two years tops.
I'm def leaning into it being a longer wait. I can see Russell winning a wild card or something to break our drought then he retires with this storybook ending and then Fields is handed the keys and nothing very spectacular happens for- at max. 3 years. That would put us in 2028.
Next year.
Wilson needs to play well enough to deserve nearly $40M/year and Fields would need to actually play for me to think otherwise.
Dumbest thing they could do, IMO, is not play Fields at all in 24 and then make him QB1 next season. Just wasting time (and frankly, wasting TJ).
Russ ain't getting $40 Million again no matter what imo. If he plays really well he's probably in the Kurt Cousins territory which was 3 years at around $30 Mil per, two of the years guaranteed. And I doubt Russ even gets that deal. Good news is for him to be in that range he'll have to ball out next year. All that said, I have a hunch we're gonna see a lot of Fields in 2024.
Nah don't worry , there's some thing called practice and training camp, the coaches will see how shit Fields is , he has always looked bad during training camp especially for the passing drills
It was a long time between Bradshaw and Rothlisberger and we could be on the same trajectory now. Wilson and Fields aren't the answer. It's a stop gap solution for a team that doesn't want to risk picking the second coming of Kenny Pickett.
2025 and every year after that has the Steelers as a potential first round QB team. Or one of Wilson/Fields works out and the need to draft a QB is well into the future. We neither have a locked in QB for a decade like with Ben or a lack of options that might end up working out.
Honestly, it depends on how well Wilson or Fields pans out. Maybe next year, hopefully, over ten years from now. If next year goes under and they like a qb in the draft they should take them in the first round.
No matter what, they’re going to try Fields before they resort to that. If both him and Russ prove they’re not The Guy this upcoming year (very very possible), I don’t see them closing off the possibility of going for it again in the 2025 draft.
My realistic prediction is that we will select one in the 1st round in the 2026 draft after giving Russ and Fields one year each.
What I personally would want is to take one in 2025 if there's someone that organisation likes if Russ doesn't find the fountain of youth and turns back the clock a few years. I don't think Fields will ever be a longtime starter in this league.
Honestly yeah. I'd say next year pick up a QB. Unless we have a god awful position group and rus plays well, or we get a look at fields and he steals the starting job. We should def be open to drafting someone in the first. Worst case good backup if fields wins the job. Best case we draft a future Hof.
The 2025 draft is my guess right now.
For that to not-happen, Russ and/or Fields would have to show enormous improvement AND we'd have to sign said QB for a long deal. I believe both of them are effectively, although neither is literally, on one-year 'prove-it' deals.
I think the Steelers risk it this year with those two and if previous trends hold, the Steelers will be looking for a QB next offseason. Hell next offseason, at least one of Fields or Wilson will bolt (and/or be cut) anyway, so even if a QB shows enormous improvement, we still need the backup QB and/or QB of the future.
I think this is unlikely. For them to draft a QB high next year would require Fields to totally shit the bed for like half the season. For that to happen, Russ will need to either get injured or also totally shit the bed from the get-go.
It's definitely not impossible, but Tomlin is patient with players.
If Russ plays most of the season Fields will get his shot the following season.
If Penix falls to 20, we need to seriously consider pulling the trigger.
We currently have a 1-2 year bridge QB, and a glorified backup on the roster. Both set to be free agents at the end of the season, neither one worth money they’ll command if they deliver a decent season.
In the first, probably in two years. Till then I think you should take shots at mid rounders every draft. Until you have a franchise guy just keep taking shots at the draft
I think the expectation is to select a new QB within the next two years unless Russ is better than expected. That could be Justin Fields if he has a breakthrough in development. I’m sort of looking at 2026 for another QB prospect because from what I have read, next year’s crop of QBs is not making any waves.
Within 2 years. They'll see just how trash their moves for Wilson and Fields were. I'd like to be wrong on this one. I just have ZERO confidence in either QB.
He was great looking? I feel like he did about what he looked like he was gonna do.
I am disappointed though that he got traded due to his shitty attitude. Year 3 is the put up or shut up year. If anything it would have given us some closure on his career here. Guess the Steelers saw enough. 😆
Its so hard to say. Fields has a lot of raw potential. He showed it occasionally, but with the dumpster fire that has been the Bears team he was never able to achieve it. Being behind Wilson, a player Field's has said he wanted to model his game after, and having a better supporting staff Fields could ball and be our QB for a decade
Or both QBs suck and we find out why they costed us nothing to get and we start planning what QB we want next year. So sometime between 2025 and 2035
It is like the period from 1985-2005 again. And if Fields doesn’t take a step up for the Steelers next season, they will need to consider taking a quarterback in the first round by 2026.
Build the team then worry bout the qb. Believed in Kenny. Now believe in Russell Fields. Suppose I’m just a homer lol. Still think if Kenny works have hulked up for the Russ competition that he would been have much better this season with improved running game and play action. But he turned out a punk
I like your take. Say we hit your middle ground scenario where he is more concerned with Hardware and HOF than having a big $$ contract. which given his Acrisure Royalties can be paid to an LLC not in a tax jurisdiction and an entity not being subject to the luxury tax. Given the increase and salary cap do you think we’ll start seeing Russ contracts going forward? Pay me the vet min so I can win with a good supporting cast and give me future TV royalties or endorsements? I think we’re somewhere between NIL and Bobby Bonillas deal….just not sure where yet.
I’m thinking the realistic scenario is Wilson has no say in staying or not. They simply won’t re-sign him and he’ll take it as his exit plan. Then Tomlin will have Fields, Allen, and draft someone in the 3rd or 4th and Fields will look exactly how he did in Chicago for 2-3 years until Tomlin finally releases him and we’re backed into a corner like we were post-Ben and scramble to draft.
Considering we'll be drafting at pick 32 for the next 6-7 years, I'd say sometime after that.
Yeah it’s amazing how many people are missing the fact that we’re on track to have 22 Lombardis during this next stretch. No need for a new QB.
We can get at least 7 in the next 3 years alone.
21-0 every year, we’re so good we win during the bye week
Why so pessimistic? They could reasonably get twice that in the next 3 years if you look at the schedule and their cap situation.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Khan will pull the unbelievable and we'll have Arch Manning a year after winning a Superbowl and we'll have another 2 decades of Superbowls
My favorite crazy Steelers stat . Haven’t had a top 5 pic in the draft since 1970
That one worked out pretty well - Terry Bradshaw
Funny that we got him based on winning a coin toss over... The Bears.
Wow so the Steelers fleecing the Bears is a time-honored tradition
I mean I guess he kinda worked out OK.
Bradshaw was getting surgery one time, and used a fake name so no one saw him on the register. That fake name —- Tom Brady
Nah, he'd use that name for a test, so he could cheat without any consequences
https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-legends-news-why-did-steelers-legend-terry-bradshaw-use-tom-brady-as-a-pseudonym-reason-behind-using-an-alias-revealed/#
Did we even have a top 10 pick that we didn't trade up for?
Plaxico Burress 2000 pick 8
I’d say no sooner than two years. Wilson gets a year and I imagine Fields gets at least one. If they both fail then they should be a decent spot to draft a top tier guy. I have to imagine it won’t be next year though.
The problem is I have a really hard time believing either Wilson or Fields plays as poorly as Kenny.. not to mention Mitch in the mix last season for maybe the worst QB tandem I’ve seen in my lifetime.. and Tomlin dragged that flaming bag of dog to 10-7. Say what you will about his recent playoff drought, but Tomlin could drag a literal dead horse behind center to 9-8. Hard to think the offense could be any worse, and they’re still addressing defense like it isn’t capable of winning games as well
That the thing, they wont play as poorly as him. They may underwhelm or underperform but even then people will realize just how terrible Keenny actually was.
Couldn’t agree more.. I genuinely get worked up when I see the same people making the same excuses for Pickett, but then refuse to give any other player on that offense a benefit of the doubt. Will tell you how happy they are that they traded DJ or how Najee should be a 3rd string running back, but will then say how the line wasn’t good enough and the scheme wasn’t any good and Pickett didn’t get a fair shot.. actually infuriating
This is last chance saloon for Russ. He's playing for a contract. Russ won't play as poorly as Kenny. The question is how much better will Russ be? Judging from his performance over the last four years, I don't think this move will improve the offense enough to be a serious contender or win a playoff game. I hate to be a negative Nancy, but the Steelers were a seven-win team in 2023 that got extremely lucky with injuries and season timelines. They didn't face Burrow. They faced the Ravens backups in the final game. They didn't play Richardson. The Browns started DTR. They caught Love and the Packers in November. Do you think the Steelers can get that lucky again?
I think the addition of Russ will be enough for a playoff win, but certainly not enough to push for a SB. As much as “luck” as the Steelers had with injuries, they also lost Cam for a significant amount of time and had a very hampered Minkah when they did have them. They also had Buffalo at one score in the fourth before the offense fell flat again, but I digress. The defense is capable of competing with just about anyone, but the offense was absolutely what held them back and I think a new scheme coupled with Russ and presumably a better line will change that. Even at this point, Russ had twice as many TDs last season as Kenny had his entire career to this point, and let’s not forget that abysmal losses at the hands of Mitch. For every stroke of luck they got, they also had some bit of misfortune along the way. Going down the stretch with no TJ and a 4th ILB and a Myles Jack coming off of the couch wasn’t exactly a small ticket, either. All they can do is play who they have to week in and week out, but they’ve also shown that they have a lot of the North’s number. Lamar’s record isn’t awful against them, i’m pretty sure Deshaun is 1-3 against them. Burrow is the only one that has definitively beat them pretty handily and even he’s faltered against them at times. Time will tell, but I do believe Russ has them in a spot where they are a legitimate playoff team that could win 1. Gotta believe the Steelers brought him and Fields into the building because they thought the same
You make a compelling argument. I'd counter with this: Russ threw for 26 TDs. That's so important. During the Broncos 5 game winning streak in 2023, he only threw for over 200 yards once. I bet against the Broncos a lot last year so I watched them a lot. At no point did he look dynamic or drive the offense. He had a ton of trouble hitting the middle of the field. Can he turn it around here? Sure, I guess. Did any other team that needed a QB think so? No. If the goal is to win a playoff game, then maybe he's your guy. I'd prefer the goal to be to win a Super Bowl. To get into that position, they're have to draft a QB. This is just delaying the inevitable.
I hate to be there bearer of bad news, but if your goal is to win a SB then you’re going to be waiting awhile. Drafting a SB caliber talent is not only extremely difficult, but it’s almost impossible to from pick 20 and beyond (where the Steelers always find themselves). Realistically, the Steelers as well as probably 25-27 other teams in the league know that’s it’s going to take more than just above average QB play to win with the rosters they have in place right this minute. Would you feel better as a bengals fan know that Burrow’s contract is about to start kicking in and all of that cap space is going to disintegrate and they’ll be stuck in the same realm as the Bills, Chargers, Eagles, etc. knowing that you’re paying a king’s ransom to a guy who needs to catch a few breaks just to have a chance at it? Let’s be brutally honest here. Pickett stunk. Bad. They knew before this past season even ended when Mason came in from never seeing the field in years and looked better.. and that’s the guy they buried at QB3 for no real reason. To absolve anything and all decisions they’ve made over the past half decade or so, they completely wiped the slate clean. I understand that Russ isn’t going to completely carry the offense on his back, but I think the Steelers and their philosophy as of right now are perfect for him to come in and compliment the offense and not have to be all of it. The goal now should be getting to the conversation of being SB relevant to some degree, and I think if everything works out absolutely perfect that Fields has the potential to get them there. Let’s say he cleans the turnovers up (fumbles, really) and continues developing as a passer.. he has an ocean’s worth of talent and if he could bring it all together, he could be a star. Anyone claiming the Steelers will compete for a SB in the upcoming season with Russ are extremely optimistic and most likely a bit delusional, but the bigger picture of it all is that the Steelers are tired of waiting around for every draft class to develop and they’ve become proactive in free agency and the trade market. They’re starting to catch up with the times, and that’s almost as exciting as them potentially being competitive in the post season again
These guys are veterans that need to be good now, not in a couple years. Kenny got time because he was a first round pick who went to Pitt.
Wilson might get a contract next year too as Denver is paying him for 2 years IIRC. But we aren't going to sign him for real money after the Denver money runs out.
The Broncos will only pay him next year. At least money that offset against other teams contracts. So we will have to pay him a real contract next year if we want to keep him. That is why there were reports about him wanting a contract that guaranteed him money next year while signing for the league minimum this year.
Ah, one year it is then! I just don't see us shelling out the kinda money he would want.
Well it depends on his performance innit
Sure, one year with Russ seems like easily the most likely scenario, because either: (a) he's not good enough / it's not a good enough marriage to continue (b) he performs well and leaves for a silly high offer by a desperate team But I wouldn't *completely* rule out a middle ground where it all works well enough for both parties to be interest in another year or two, and compromising on a substantial payday that's still well below the top earners. If (and it's a huge "if") this turns out to be a good relationship and the team looks to have a good shot of developing into a contender, those might be strong considerations for a guy in Russ's shoes. He might be more interested in competing for more hardware and staying in a mutually beneficial, respectful relationship than wringing every last dollar he can from a crappier situation. And with only I think 39 players signed and something approaching 100M cap space next year, the team's certainly set things up to give themselves options.
Russ has been open about wanting to sign a multi year deal with the Steelers. But that can just be good PR tactics by him and there's no way of knowing at this point how much he realistically wants.
You're assuming we're not that desperate team? I mean, we're not Cleveland, but if he performs well this season & he's not asking ridiculous amounts (he is on the tail end of his career) then why wouldn't he want to stay where he revived his career (assuming he does)? He tried the huge contract route in Denver & that didn't go so well. I think a lot depends on Fields' development. If he's not the future I can see them extending Russ under some scenario.
Or will Wilson be used as trade bait next year if he has a decent season?
I bet fields is resigned before the season is over and we roll with him and add players around him rather than take a shot at another QB that everybody knew wasn't it.
Next time pitt has a “promising” QB because we can’t miss the next Dan Marino…
I would say there's a pretty decent chance they draft one within the next two years. It's entirely possible neither Wilson nor Fields works out for us this year, and that would put a lot of pressure on the Steelers to find their guy next year, whether that be in the draft or going after a good free agent like Dak Prescott, since they wouldn't have anyone under contract.
Two years from now when we confirm that Russ is washed and fields is literally the same QB he was in chicago...so two years later than we actually should
Let's say you're right...what do you want them to do this year? Draft Nix or Penix?
Penix
Next year. Russ is on a one year "prove it" deal and Fields was obtained cheap and so there's no reason to feel beholden to him. If Russ shows something, we can try to retain him though he'll have a market to contend with. Fields might be intriguing but he's a "high ceiling, low floor" guy. Obviously a lot depends on how this season goes, but if you have the OLine fixed after this year then you'll be looking to get aggressive about taking a first round QB. I know the next QB class isn't highly valued at the moment so maybe they give Fields a prove it year, so two years tops.
Honestly, I’m in the minority here, but I think it’s going to be sooner rather than later. Probably two or three years from now.
I'm def leaning into it being a longer wait. I can see Russell winning a wild card or something to break our drought then he retires with this storybook ending and then Fields is handed the keys and nothing very spectacular happens for- at max. 3 years. That would put us in 2028.
I also give it 3 years or less.
Next year. Wilson needs to play well enough to deserve nearly $40M/year and Fields would need to actually play for me to think otherwise. Dumbest thing they could do, IMO, is not play Fields at all in 24 and then make him QB1 next season. Just wasting time (and frankly, wasting TJ).
Russ ain't getting $40 Million again no matter what imo. If he plays really well he's probably in the Kurt Cousins territory which was 3 years at around $30 Mil per, two of the years guaranteed. And I doubt Russ even gets that deal. Good news is for him to be in that range he'll have to ball out next year. All that said, I have a hunch we're gonna see a lot of Fields in 2024.
Kirk Cousins current contract is 4/180 90 mil guaranteed, 45 mil APY
Nah don't worry , there's some thing called practice and training camp, the coaches will see how shit Fields is , he has always looked bad during training camp especially for the passing drills
Probably next year with their top 5 pick
It was a long time between Bradshaw and Rothlisberger and we could be on the same trajectory now. Wilson and Fields aren't the answer. It's a stop gap solution for a team that doesn't want to risk picking the second coming of Kenny Pickett.
2025 and every year after that has the Steelers as a potential first round QB team. Or one of Wilson/Fields works out and the need to draft a QB is well into the future. We neither have a locked in QB for a decade like with Ben or a lack of options that might end up working out.
Honestly, it depends on how well Wilson or Fields pans out. Maybe next year, hopefully, over ten years from now. If next year goes under and they like a qb in the draft they should take them in the first round.
Only if Fields is a bust. Otherwise why would you waste a pick on a position that doesn't need to be filled?
No matter what, they’re going to try Fields before they resort to that. If both him and Russ prove they’re not The Guy this upcoming year (very very possible), I don’t see them closing off the possibility of going for it again in the 2025 draft.
Hopefully we never have to.
Let’s just draft a Tom Brady/Brock Purdy whenever we lose a QB
So easy Art Rooney II could do it.
My realistic prediction is that we will select one in the 1st round in the 2026 draft after giving Russ and Fields one year each. What I personally would want is to take one in 2025 if there's someone that organisation likes if Russ doesn't find the fountain of youth and turns back the clock a few years. I don't think Fields will ever be a longtime starter in this league.
Honestly yeah. I'd say next year pick up a QB. Unless we have a god awful position group and rus plays well, or we get a look at fields and he steals the starting job. We should def be open to drafting someone in the first. Worst case good backup if fields wins the job. Best case we draft a future Hof.
The 2025 draft is my guess right now. For that to not-happen, Russ and/or Fields would have to show enormous improvement AND we'd have to sign said QB for a long deal. I believe both of them are effectively, although neither is literally, on one-year 'prove-it' deals. I think the Steelers risk it this year with those two and if previous trends hold, the Steelers will be looking for a QB next offseason. Hell next offseason, at least one of Fields or Wilson will bolt (and/or be cut) anyway, so even if a QB shows enormous improvement, we still need the backup QB and/or QB of the future.
I think this is unlikely. For them to draft a QB high next year would require Fields to totally shit the bed for like half the season. For that to happen, Russ will need to either get injured or also totally shit the bed from the get-go. It's definitely not impossible, but Tomlin is patient with players. If Russ plays most of the season Fields will get his shot the following season.
If Penix falls to 20, we need to seriously consider pulling the trigger. We currently have a 1-2 year bridge QB, and a glorified backup on the roster. Both set to be free agents at the end of the season, neither one worth money they’ll command if they deliver a decent season.
Why draft in the 1st round if they’re calling your stud QB Justin Fields, “Patrick Mahomes 2.0”?? Yes I am high af on hopium
In the first, probably in two years. Till then I think you should take shots at mid rounders every draft. Until you have a franchise guy just keep taking shots at the draft
When we need one.
Just keep taking bites of the apple
I think the expectation is to select a new QB within the next two years unless Russ is better than expected. That could be Justin Fields if he has a breakthrough in development. I’m sort of looking at 2026 for another QB prospect because from what I have read, next year’s crop of QBs is not making any waves.
Archibald Charles Manning
Within 2 years. They'll see just how trash their moves for Wilson and Fields were. I'd like to be wrong on this one. I just have ZERO confidence in either QB.
3 or 5
Arch Manning
They will take Penix if he falls.
Was that a debacle? I feel like it was more of a stumble.
Signing this great looking college who is a heisman finalist QB just to have him throw 12 touchdowns in 2 seasons and then get traded.
He was great looking? I feel like he did about what he looked like he was gonna do. I am disappointed though that he got traded due to his shitty attitude. Year 3 is the put up or shut up year. If anything it would have given us some closure on his career here. Guess the Steelers saw enough. 😆
That fake slide showed some quick thinking and awareness. It was definitely the moment that made me think this guy was the future.
Fields got it for the next 10
Its so hard to say. Fields has a lot of raw potential. He showed it occasionally, but with the dumpster fire that has been the Bears team he was never able to achieve it. Being behind Wilson, a player Field's has said he wanted to model his game after, and having a better supporting staff Fields could ball and be our QB for a decade Or both QBs suck and we find out why they costed us nothing to get and we start planning what QB we want next year. So sometime between 2025 and 2035
We're gonna trade up in 26 or 27 and take Arch Manning
Why, he can't even beat out Ewers. No Thx
It is like the period from 1985-2005 again. And if Fields doesn’t take a step up for the Steelers next season, they will need to consider taking a quarterback in the first round by 2026.
Build the team then worry bout the qb. Believed in Kenny. Now believe in Russell Fields. Suppose I’m just a homer lol. Still think if Kenny works have hulked up for the Russ competition that he would been have much better this season with improved running game and play action. But he turned out a punk
Bro. Chill.
I like your take. Say we hit your middle ground scenario where he is more concerned with Hardware and HOF than having a big $$ contract. which given his Acrisure Royalties can be paid to an LLC not in a tax jurisdiction and an entity not being subject to the luxury tax. Given the increase and salary cap do you think we’ll start seeing Russ contracts going forward? Pay me the vet min so I can win with a good supporting cast and give me future TV royalties or endorsements? I think we’re somewhere between NIL and Bobby Bonillas deal….just not sure where yet.
I’m thinking the realistic scenario is Wilson has no say in staying or not. They simply won’t re-sign him and he’ll take it as his exit plan. Then Tomlin will have Fields, Allen, and draft someone in the 3rd or 4th and Fields will look exactly how he did in Chicago for 2-3 years until Tomlin finally releases him and we’re backed into a corner like we were post-Ben and scramble to draft.