Russell Wilson has led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 4-1 record since taking over the starting role but the veterans deal expires at the end of the 2024 season.
On Thursday Night Football, Wilson suffered his first loss as the starter as Pittsburgh fell 24-19 to the Cleveland Browns in driving snow. Despite entering the AFC North showdown atop the division, Pittsburgh struggled offensively in the wintery conditions and failed to put points on the board even as Wilson efficiently completed 21-of-28 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Justin Fields started for the Steelers, and while his play was somewhat uninspired, he led the franchise to a 4-2 record. Fields tallied 1,106 yards through the air, tossing five touchdowns and an interception while adding 231 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
After head coach Mike Tomlin decided to flip to Wilson, Fields has been used in spots; he secured the win over the Baltimore Ravens by leaning on his rushing threat to gain a first down before taking snaps in the Browns loss. Earlier this week, following the win over the Ravens, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith told reporters: I still view Justin and he is, I think, [a] premium starter in this league, so its a fine line. You dont want to be a gadget guy, but he can help the team.
Given both Wilson and Fields are on one-year deals and Fields is over a decade younger the Steelers may choose to move forward with the former Chicago Bears signal-caller in 2025. Here are three landing spots for Wilson if he departs Pittsburgh for next season:
Cleveland Browns
Currently, the Cleveland Browns are the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There isnt a lot of high-end quarterback talent in the upcoming class, while the likes of Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are set to go off the board earlier.
The Browns are still tied to Deshaun Watson, but for a multitude of reasons, the franchise will likely move off him in the upcoming offseason. With talent on both sides of the ball, the Browns could bring Wilson in to try and take the franchise back to the playoffs. The cherry on top would simply be the signing of a quarterback from their division rivals.
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Russell Wilson has rekindled his best form with the Steelers, unlocking a deep-threat component to their offense (
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Carolina Panthers
Earlier this season, the Panthers decided to move beleaguered second-year pro Bryce Young to the bench in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. Daltons injury allowed Young to return to the fold, and while performances have improved and he delivered a win last time out, the Panthers will be assessing all options.
Given the NFC South franchise is undergoing a total rebuild, a move for Wilson is perhaps unlikely. But maybe a steady veteran presence who is more equipped than Dalton to compete could be what the Panthers need in the short term going forward.
New York Giants
The New York Giants will likely want to select one of the premier quarterback talents in the upcoming draft after cutting ties with Daniel Jones. On Friday, the Giants decided to officially move on from the 2019 first-round pick, with the franchise suffering a 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Germany to slip to 2-8.
But if Tommy DeVito delivers a few wins down the stretch and the franchise becomes desperate, a starting spot could open for someone like Wilson. The Tennessee Titans could also be in play for Wilson, given the consistent inconsistency displayed by Will Levis, but the AFC South franchise is expected to stick with the quarterback for another year if they arent in position to land Sanders or Ward.
