Why Steelers should play Russell Wilson and Justin Fields next season

The Steelers surprised the football world on Saturday, trading just a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick for Bears QB Justin Fields.

Head coach Mike Tomlin reportedly reached out to Russell Wilson when the trade was going down to let him know he was still the starter. However, here are three reasons why both players should see the field next season.

One-year deals

Wilson and Fields are set to play on one-year deals in 2024. Pittsburgh could pick up Fields' fifth-year option, but that feels unlikely to happen as it is worth $25.6 million, and the Steelers only invested a future late-round pick on the 25-year-old.

That means one of them is unlikely to still be with the team in 2025 since both will likely get paid to start following the 2024 season. So, the Steelers must make sure they pick the right player and the only way to do that is by seeing how each plays in their offense.

Both players will likely play in the preseason, but fans in Pittsburgh have been fooled before by preseason games when QB Kenny Pickett had a perfect passer rating a year ago. Finding a way to see Wilson and Fields in regular season action is a must.

Dynamic offense

The Steelers haven't had a dynamic quarterback like Fields since Kordell Stewart, a second-round pick by the team in 1995. Stewart joined a quarterback room that already included Neil O'Donnell, who was still the starter for the next two seasons.

However, Pittsburgh found a way to use both players on a weekly basis by giving Stewart his own offensive packages. Many, like NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, believe the team should do same with Fields.

"Really like what the Steelers have done with their QB room. Maybe they have a special package for Justin Fields," Simms posted on platform X. "Either way he should get a chance to develop and hopefully learn a bit from a veteran in Russ"

Fields has proven to be electric with the ball in his hands, rushing for 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first three seasons. So, why not add another element to the offense and force opposing teams to spend extra time preparing for both quarterbacks?

A lot to prove

Competition is always a good thing and both players have a lot to prove. Wilson is coming off a disappointing two-year stint in Denver where he went 11-19 as a starter. Fields has yet to find his footing in the league with a 10-28 career record.

There's no question that both players are set up for success in Pittsburgh's run-heavy offense that will be complemented with a play-action pass attack. Forcing one of them ride the bench every week feels like a waste of talent.