For the Steelers, the excitement of their 4-2 start under Justin Fields, followed by a four-game winning streak after Russell Wilson took over at quarterback, has given way to a tough reality. While the team has shown promise, it has become evident that without a top-tier quarterback, they will struggle to reach greatness.
Both Fields and Wilson have exceeded expectations this season, but after Saturday’s 34-17 loss to the Ravens, Pittsburgh has now dropped three of its last five games and shown it can’t quite compete with the NFL’s elite teams. This week, the loss came to AFC contender Baltimore, while last week it was an NFC contender, the Eagles.
Fields and Wilson were brought in as temporary solutions, with the possibility of sticking around if things went well. However, it’s becoming clear that Fields is unlikely to return next season, while Wilson may stay—though at 36 years old, the Steelers will need to draft or sign a younger, more promising quarterback.
Fox Sports’ recent mock draft predicts the Steelers could be in luck, with one of the top college quarterbacks, Cam Ward from Miami, potentially slipping to them in the teens. Ward is projected by some as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
Ward led the nation this season with 36 touchdown passes, bringing his career total to 84 after two successful years at Washington State. He threw for 4,123 yards and was named the ACC Player of the Year.
According to Rob Rang, the analyst behind the mock draft, Ward would be a great fit for Pittsburgh: “The Steelers’ success this season, despite rotating quarterbacks, is commendable. But with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields set to become free agents, the team must evaluate this year’s rookie class. Agile, instinctive, and accurate, Ward could be an exciting option if Pittsburgh decides to draft and develop a young quarterback.”
If the Steelers land a quarterback of Ward’s caliber in the 2025 draft, it raises questions about how long Wilson would remain with the team. The plan would likely be to make Ward the starter sooner rather than later, but the bigger question is whether Wilson would want to re-sign with Pittsburgh for one year, or if he could attract longer-term offers elsewhere.
