Steelers Could Be Lost In Quarterback Purgatory For A Long Time: 'It Can Get Worse'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for their newest franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Kenny Pickett was supposed to be that guy, but he was traded away after just two seasons with the team for allegedly being a poor teammate. The Steelers recently traded for Justin Fields in the hopes that he can realize his potential that made him a first-round draft pick. For now, Russell Wilson is the starter while Fields develops, but what happens if that goes wrong?

Ray Fittipaldo brought up the quarterback situation in his pre-OTA notes, and the current issues reminded him of an era that many older members of Steeler Nation wish to forget: life without Terry Bradshaw.

"Any Steelers fan who lived through the 1980s and 1990s after Terry Bradshaw retired knows it can get worse if Wilson isn’t the answer this season. The Steelers hope he is after two tumultuous seasons in Denver, where he butted heads with Broncos coach, Sean Payton, who convinced his front office it was best to pay Wilson $39 million to not play for the Broncos this season... After Bradshaw retired, it took the Steelers 20 years to find their next franchise quarterback. Wilson isn’t a long-term answer for the Steelers, but they’re hoping he can be better than [Mitch] Trubisky and Pickett, who couldn’t elevate the Steelers offense in their 31 combined starts the past two seasons."

After Bradshaw retired in 1983, the Steelers spent the next 21 years looking for their next franchise quarterback. The quarterback carousel went around and around with many quarterbacks like Bubby Brister and Neil O'Donnell. Draft picks and money were routinely wasted in the attempt to find their new leader, until Roethlisberger fell into their laps with the 11th overall pick in 2004. 

Pittsburgh is entering year three of trying to find Roethlisberger's heir. They spent a lot of money on a contract for Mitch Trubisky, as well as an extension, before cutting him in the 2024 offseason. They also used a first-round pick on Pickett, but then shipped out for a 22-pick upgrade in the middle rounds, as well as a pair of seventh-round picks. 

While Wilson and Fields were both extremely cheap to acquire, there is a real chance that neither of them work out. Wilson was cut after the 2023 season by the Denver Broncos for not being the quarterback that they thought they were getting when they traded for him. While Fields does still have upside, the Steelers got him because he couldn't reach his ceiling with the Chicago Bears. It's a longshot attempt that didn't cost the Steelers much in draft compensation.

Steelers Need Wilson And/Or Fields To Be A True Starter

John Rhys Plumlee, an undrafted free agent, is the only quarterback that is not slated to become a free agent after the 2024 season. Typically, if a quarterback is not good at all, you can just let them walk in free agency. However, the Steelers may not have that option. The upcoming free agent/draft class for quarterbacks is expected to be underwhelming. 

The only starting-caliber quarterbacks that could realistically leave in free agency are Dak Prescott and Tua Tagovailoa, both of whom will demand a massive contract despite never making it past the Divisional round of the playoffs. Meanwhile, the draft class is expected to be weaker than the 2022 draft class, where Pickett was the only quarterback selected in the first round. 

The Steelers may be forced to keep Wilson and/or Fields after 2024, whether they do well for the team or not. Unless Wilson plays like he did with the Seattle Seahawks or Fields finally gets close to his ceiling, the Steelers could end up in quarterback purgatory for a long time. It took two decades to find Bradshaw's successor; it might take another two decades to find Roethlisberger's.