Steelers Should Consider Russell Wilson an Acceptable Plan C Amid Aaron Rodgers Rumors

A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers probably didn't anticipate entering 2025 free agency like this. The Steelers double-dipped into the quarterback market, signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields, believing that one of them could become a long-term answer.

Fields was replaced after six games once Wilson was healthy. However, Wilson stumbled down the stretch, and Pittsburgh was clearly more interested in signing the younger Fields long-term.

However, the Steelers weren't interested enough in Fields to prevent him from taking a better offer and bolting for the New York Jets.

So, Pittsburgh is essentially where it was a year ago—lacking a starting-caliber quarterback and hoping it can land one who can turn a playoff-caliber team into a title contender.

With Fields and Sam Darnold both off the board, Pittsburgh's best option at quarterback—other than Wilson—may be Aaron Rodgers. However, Pittsburgh isn't Rodgers' only option.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Rodgers is currently trying to decide between the Steelers and the New York Giants.

"I don't know which way Aaron Rodgers is leaning right now," Rapoport told The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday.

Whether the 41-year-old Rodgers will actually be an upgrade over Wilson is debatable. However, the Steelers may have other reasons for wanting to turn the page on last year's starter.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer told the Rich Eisen Show (h/t Bleacher Report's Julia Stumbaugh) that the relationship between the Steelers and Wilson is "not in the best place."

Of course, that might not stop Pittsburgh from turning back to Wilson if it whiffs on Rodgers. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wilson is still in play:

While that might be an ideal outcome for the Steelers—or their fans—it should be an acceptable one. Wilson now has experience with head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Thanks the Sunday's trade for DK Metcalf, Wilson would also rejoin one of his best receivers from his Seattle days.

And while Wilson didn't play well late in the 2024 season, it's worth remembering that No. 1 receiver George Pickens missed three games and Pittsburgh's defense didn't do Wilson many favors.

With an improved supporting cast, Wilson is good enough to give Pittsburgh another shot at making a postseason run. He can also hold down the starting job for a year or two if the Steelers decide to take a developmental quarterback in the draft.

With the 21st overall pick, the Steelers aren't going to find one of the potential rookie starters—Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders—in this year's draft class.

The veteran alternatives aren't great. Pittsburgh could target former Steelers backup Mason Rudolph, turnover-prone Jameis Winston or 40-year-old Joe Flacco. It could also wait and hope that the Atlanta Falcons decide to cut Kirk Cousins lose before his $10 million bonus is due on March 17—and hope that he doesn't prefer to reunite with Kevin Stefanski and join the rival Browns.

Those quarterbacks may be available at a more team-friendly price than Wilson, of course. However, he doesn't appear to have much of a market, and if he wants an opportunity to start in 2025, he'd probably accept a deal similar to the one Pittsburgh was willing to give Fields.

Would the Steelers prefer to have a 26-year-old former first-round pick with tons of upside? Sure, but Fields is gone, and if Rodgers can't be had, Wilson is a solid Plan C.