The Pittsburgh Steelers could extend TE Pat Freiremuth or DL Cam Hayward before Week 1, but they appear to have no plans to do anything with QB Russell Wilson or Justin Fields ahead of their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
According to PPG’s Gary Dulac, Pittsburgh has no plans to offer extensions to either quarterback this summer.
Dulac’s wording is cautious. He said the team has no plans “as of now,” leaving open the possibility that things could change depending on how the team performs this summer. Pittsburgh’s policy of concluding negotiations before Week 1 remains in effect under GM Omar Khan, with a strict deadline set for Sept. 7, the day before the game against the Falcons.
Wilson, who was released by the Denver Broncos and started the new league year, signed a one-year contract for the minimum amount to join the Steelers. Denver must pay back about $40 million of what it owes Wilson this year. Fields, who was traded from the Chicago Bears, is in the final year of his rookie contract after the Steelers declined his fifth-year option as expected in May.
Third-team quarterback Kyle Allen also signed a one-year deal on April 1. The only other quarterback currently under contract beyond 2024 is undrafted free agent John Rice-Plumlee, whose three-year deal would become a one-year deal if he is cut and signs with the practice squad.
Pittsburgh is in an awkward position, with no clear idea of who will be on the 2025 roster, let alone who will start. But there is an upside to investing big money in positions before the season ends. If there’s one thing the front office has done right since Ben Rothlisberger, it’s not overpaying, not locking players into non-releasable contracts, or seriously damaging their salary cap position.
As Mike Tomlin confirmed on Thursday, Wilson will enter training camp as the Steelers’ starter. Fields will start at No. 2 unless something major happens to Wilson, such as an injury. Whether he stays there for the entire regular season will depend on his and the team’s success. Fields will likely be used in special packages, utilizing his legs and mobility. After this year, Pittsburgh can use everything they learned in 2024 to make the best decision on who to keep in 2025.
