The national media is getting a head start on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 quarterback situation despite the fact that we are only a few months away from the endless talks of the quarterback carousel leading up to 2024 free agency.
Although the Steelers added both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in free agency, neither player is signed through 2024, so it is likely that we will be discussing every quarterback that is available as a Steelers option once again next offseason. One notable quarterback who could become available is Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
When ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler visited the This Is Football show earlier this week, he mentioned the Steelers as a potential destination for the following season in the event that the Cowboys are unable to come to an agreement with their star quarterback.
“I assume you’re thinking of Pittsburgh? He may play as well as Russell Wilson, but his contract is only for a year and a minimum of $1 million, right? Additionally, Justin Fields’ option to play for a fifth year is not exercised.
“Perhaps he’s a long-term solution,” Fowler stated in an NFL podcast video that was uploaded to ESPN’s YouTube channel. He continues by saying that if Prescott became available, eight or ten teams would probably be interested.
That should come as no surprise considering that for three of the previous five seasons, Prescott has been among the league’s top quarterbacks. With a 69.5 completion percentage and 4,516 passing yards with 38 total touchdowns last year, it was possibly his best performance to date.
He would absolutely raise the trajectory of the team, but there is a reason the Cowboys have been putting off signing him.
The most recent quarterback to get a contract extension was Trevor Lawrence, who signed a $275 million, five-year deal with an average of $55 million a year with guarantees of up to $200 million ($142 fully gtd.).
Lawrence has not done nearly as well as Prescott, who is valued at an estimated $60 million per season on average by some. And given the state of the quarterback market, if another player signs before then, that number might rise even further.
“I believe he would reach a significant amount, even though I’m not sure if he would reach the $70 million mark—the structure and the guarantees would be absurd,” Fowler remarked. “At a higher number, he would have the kind of significant leverage that Kirk Cousins possesses.”
Therefore, even though the annual salary may be $60 million, there are virtually no opportunities for negotiation should he perform poorly or have an injury.
Although the Steelers’ front management would have to make a franchise-altering decision, the team would undoubtedly improve during the duration of the contract. Other implications for the squad would include less money for players like George Pickens, whose contract is up for renewal next offseason in an ever-inflating wide receiver market.
It would be a drastic move to go from Russell Wilson’s minimum contract to Prescott’s highest-ever contract, but perhaps it is what the team needs to return to winning ways. They will eventually have to foot the bill for someone holding the most crucial position on the squad.
The Steelers and Wilson are reportedly interested in extending their deal beyond the 2024 campaign, according to reports. Though there is a five-year age difference between the two, he won’t command the same kind of contract as Prescott, so it will mostly depend on how he plays. Additionally, Prescott has to successfully leave Dallas without needing an extension.
