Steelers reporter predicts if Russell Wilson, Justin Fields will sign extensions

On Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly of The Athletic predicted that veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will not sign an extension ahead of the season after Wilson inked a team-friendly contract to join the Steelers in March.

"He will become a free agent next year, and the Steelers could lose out on him, but their hands are tied," Kaboly said. "You don’t extend a 35-year-old quarterback before he takes a snap for you. The Steelers have to hope that, if Wilson has a solid 2024 season, his priority is staying with them."

The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants were both linked with Wilson before he signed with Pittsburgh, but the Steelers also acquired 25-year-old quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears for a conditional 2025 sixth-round draft pick in March. It's believed Wilson will begin organized team activities penciled in as Pittsburgh's QB1, but Fields should receive an opportunity to win the starting job from training camp through a portion of the preseason. 

While Pittsburgh declined the fifth-year option attached to Fields' rookie contract, Kaboly thinks the Steelers will try to sign the 2021 first-round draft choice to an extension allowing them to retain his rights through the 2025 campaign. 

"His shortcomings over his first three seasons don’t warrant a lucrative extension," Kaboly said about Fields. "Still, if the Steelers use 2024 to determine whether he is the long-term answer at the position, they would lose all of their leverage by allowing him to hit free agency. The prudent thing to do is extend him now at a reduced price to ensure that he will be on the roster in 2025 without a huge risk to the salary cap."

Kaboly mentioned the Steelers could essentially replace Fields' fifth-year option with a one-year extension similar to how the Green Bay Packers handled the future of Jordan Love after they traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets last offseason. Of course, the Packers knew at that time Love would be their 2023 Week 1 starter barring a disaster. Individuals within the Steelers seemingly are hoping Wilson keeps Fields a spectator through all of the upcoming season. 

Logic suggests Wilson likely would want to stick around if he resurrected his career with the Steelers following his rough stint with the Denver Broncos that lasted just two seasons. Fields, meanwhile, probably will want to get paid in a big way if he becomes a revelation working under Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Truth be told, Fields ultimately may bet on himself and head into September in a contract year.