Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shares who he believes is the team's best option at QB for the 2025 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for their next franchise quarterback ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. He thinks the team's answer for the 2025 season is still on the roster, as long as they come at the right price.
"I don't know when there will be an answer for all this. I'm going to make it about money," Roethlisberger said on the latest episode of "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger." "I think the important thing is which guy could you get here for less money so that you could go get a free-agent wide receiver, you could spend money elsewhere?"
Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are among the Steelers' 24 players set to become free agents and it remains to be seen what each quarterback will demand on the open market.
However, according to Spotrac, Wilson is projected to receive a two-year, $77.46 million contract while Fields is only projected to receive a one-year, $6.43 million deal.
If that remains true, Roethlisberger thinks it's an easy choice.
"I would start with who's going to require me to pay them less money and it's probably Justin Fields," Roethlisberger said. "Does that mean Justin is better than Russ or a better fit for the job? I think both of them bring some positives and negatives to the table, which every player does. So when it's all said and done, it's going to come down to how can I best utilize the money that I'm saving to go elsewhere on the team."
Both players have strong cases that they should be starting quarterbacks next season, and that will probably happen. They just both can't be that for the Steelers.
Fields threw for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception while leading the Steelers to a 4-2 start to the season. He also rushed for 231 yards and five touchdowns during the span.
Wilson, on the other hand, threw for 1,784 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions while going 6-1 before the team's late-season collapse.
Since the Steelers' five-game losing streak to end the year, many conflicting reports have surfaced regarding Wilson's relationship with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, putting his future in Pittsburgh in doubt .
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson at practice on Jan. 9, 2025 — Ed Thompson/ Steelers Now
Roethlisberger doesn't think that should be the difference when deciding which quarterback the Steelers should bring back, though.
"It seems like every day we're getting a positive story about Russell Wilson and what's going on and him coming back here," Roethlisberger said. "Then the next day, it's a negative story about Russell Wilson and coming back here."
Only time will tell what the Steelers' choice will be, but if the 10-years-younger Fields does come at a cheaper price, the answer seems obvious.
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