Before you get too excited about the Pittsburgh Steelers potentially having their future franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, hold your horses.
If you can believe a word from Gerry Dulac, the Pittsburgh Steelers intend to extend quarterback Russell Wilson through 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,” Steelers insider Gerry Dulac posted on X.
That’s a conundrum, given that Pittsburgh has just acquired Justin Fields in a trade. We all got the feeling that Wilson was merely a bridge QB.
Former Steelers Wire managing editor Neal Coolong predicts Fields will explore free agency in 2025, provided Wilson is “healthy and capable.”
The Steelers now own the fifth-year option rights to the former 11th-overall draft pick, which they must decide on by May 2. The cost to exercise that option is a cool $25.664 million, which Pittsburgh would be insane to do.
For now, though, Fields is playing on the final year of his rookie deal at a much more affordable rate of $3.233 million. The Steelers are likely to decline the option and perhaps offer a team-friendly extension if Wilson doesn’t work out and wants to test free agency.
The good thing is that the Steelers have options where things looked pretty bleak two weeks ago.
#Steelers and Russell Wilson aim to sign an extension after the 2024 season, per @gerrydulac. That info was leaked specifically to tell people Fields was not acquired to be an option. He's a back-up. Probably explores free agency next year, provided Wilson is healthy and capable.
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) March 16, 2024