Steelers' Top Contract Extension Priorities Entering Training Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big season coming up to determine the future of their franchise.

The Russell Wilson-Justin Fields quarterback battle will be front and center at training camp.

The signal-caller competition is also important for beyond the 2024 season because both players will be free agents in 2025.

Wilson or Fields would presumably earn a new deal with the Steelers if they perform well in the starting role.

The Steelers also have to evaluate their long-term future at running back and tight end throughout the 2024 campaign. Jaylen Warren and Pat Freiermuth are both set to become free agents after the season.

Winner of Quarterback Competition

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 6: Justin Fields #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Whichever quarterback wins the quarterback competition will have his future contract discussed for parts of the 2024 season.

Fields is the better option from a future perspective because he is younger and presumably has multiple years to give the Steelers.

Wilson presents a more complicated situation because the last thing the Steelers may want to is shell out a ton of money to an aging quarterback.

However, if Wilson reverts back to his Seattle form, the Steelers could be intrigued to keep him around for another year or two.

The Steelers need to figure out who the starter is first before any extension talk, but it will hover over the team once a starter is named so that the franchise does not get caught in a quarterback shuffle in 2025.

Jaylen Warren

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 6: Jaylen Warren #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the Pittsburgh Steelers OTA offseason workout at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on June 6 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Jaylen Warren is in the last year of his rookie deal.

Warren has made less than $1 million per season in his NFL career and a massive 2024 campaign could lead to a mega deal compared to what he is currently getting paid.

The Steelers have a big decision awaiting them because they probably will have to choose between Warren and Najee Harris.

There's no way any team would want multiple running backs on the roster making multiple millions of dollars per season.

Whichever running back has the better 2024 on the field will probably stick around for the future.

However, if their performances are equal, Warren could leave for a big deal somewhere else to be the clear-cut No. 1 running back.

Pat Freiermuth

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: Pat Freiermuth #88 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against Kaiir Elam #24 of the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Pat Freiermuth has been a strong asset to the Steelers offense since he arrived in the NFL.

But now the Steelers have to determine what he is actually worth compared to the rest of the tight ends across the league.

Freiermuth is at the end of a four-year rookie deal and will become a free agent in 2025.

He produced seven touchdown in his rookie season and then followed that up with 732 receiving yards in his sophomore campaign.

The potential is there for Freiermuth to be a solid pass-catcher, but injuries and poor quarterback play ruined his numbers in 2023. He had 308 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Freiermuth could certainly bounce back with the new quarterback at the helm in 2024, and if that happens, the Steelers have to figure out whether he is worth keeping on a contract extension before he hits the free-agent market.