The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, as the team will travel to M&T Bank Stadium to square off against the Baltimore Ravens in a crucial AFC North contest in Week 16. The Steelers suffered a disappointing 27-12 loss in Week 15 versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
Though Pittsburgh fell flat in Week 15, Mike Tomlin's squad is having an exceptional 2024 campaign, boasting a 10-4 record through 14 games and leading the AFC North. The Steelers' defense is having another dominant season and has been pivotal to Pittsburgh's success, but the offense has also shown promise, primarily because of the improved quarterback play.
Justin Fields served as the team's starting signal caller during the first six weeks of the season while Russell Wilson dealt with a calf injury, and the 25-year-old posted a 4-2 record and totaled ten touchdowns with just two turnovers. Wilson returned from injury in Week 7 and assumed the starting role. The veteran boasts a 6-2 record in his eight starts and is playing clean and efficient football.
Though Pittsburgh's quarterbacks have flourished under first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in 2024, Wilson and Fields are scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason.
One of Wilson or Fields will likely be back on the team next year, but Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer doesn't believe that should stop general manager Omar Khan from selecting a signal caller, as Iyer has the Steelers spending their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers.
This might seem like too soon after the Kenny Pickett flameout, but Russell Wilson still feels like a bridge and Justin Fields can't be more than a run-oriented fill-in. Ewers' blend of accurate downfield passing from the pocket and athleticism would mesh well with Arthur Smith's offense, even if the Steelers would need Wilson to start another year.
Though Ewers is accurate and has been one of the best pocket passers in college football over the last two years, the Steelers should avoid using a premium draft choice on the Longhorns signal caller. Ewers doesn't have a very high ceiling and has been extremely inconsistent in 2024.
Instead of drafting Ewers with their first-round pick, Pittsburgh should re-sign Russell Wilson and surround the veteran with a formidable team that can compete for a Super Bowl for the next few seasons. Wilson has proved that he is still an adequate starting signal caller, and reaching on an average quarterback with a top-30 selection to backup Wilson and eventually take over as the starter in the future wouldn't be a smart move from the Steelers.
Long story short, taking Quinn Ewers in Round 1 of April's draft to serve as Wilson's backup and eventually replacement instead of taking a more talented player or filling a need would be an underwhelming move from Omar Khan.
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