The Pittsburgh Steelers did the unthinkable in the 2024 offseason. They completely overhauled their quarterback room.

2023 QB Room

• Kenny Pickett
• Mitch Trubisky
• Mason Rudolph

To remind you, Trubisky was given his outright release, Pickett was traded to be a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles, and Mason Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

2024 QB Room

• Russell Wilson
• Justin Fields
• Kyle Allen

While most would say the 2024 quarterback room was a step in the right direction, there is only one problem. All three of those players are set to hit free agency in 2025, and the Steelers pulling the plug on Fields to turn to Wilson, who struggled down the stretch, left the team with more questions than answers.

If the team is realizing anything after the last two years, it is this simple fact:

In the NFL, if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance.

During Mike Tomlin’s end-of-season press conference last Tuesday, he was asked about the state of the quarterback room heading into the offseason. The response was factual, and also not promising.

“We don’t have a quarterback under contract and so we’ve got some major discussions there,” Tomlin said earlier this week. “It was a really good experience with the three quarterbacks that were on our roster this year individually and collectively. We are certainly open to considering those guys, but there’s a lot of work ahead of us.

“The major work, obviously, starts first and foremost just understanding what our options are, what the field looks like in terms of free agency, what the draft pool looks like and then beginning the process in terms of decision-making based on known variables, and so Omar and I have got half a day carved out here this week just to begin that component of the discussion.”

There are some who follow the draft closely who are saying this upcoming crop of quarterbacks rivals the 2022 quarterback crop. In case you forget, that was the dreaded draft which saw Pickett be the only quarterback selected in Round 1, and that was to the Steelers. After Pickett went off the board, no other quarterback was taken till Round 3.

If this upcoming draft is similar to that draft, the Steelers would be wise to not waste a pick on the position.

What about free agency? Here are the quarterbacks slated to be on the open market this offseason:

• Sam Darnold
• Zach Wilson
• Russell Wilson
• Justin Fields
• Cooper Rush
• Jacoby Brissett
• Marcus Mariota
• Andy Dalton
• Jameis Winston
• Joe Flacco
• Mac Jones
• Carson Wentz
• Mason Rudolph
• Joshu Dobbs
• Kyle Trask
• Bailey Zappe

There are others, but these are the big names on this offseason’s free agent list. See anyone who would, or could, be deemed a must-have on that list?

Me neither.

To me, the Steelers best hope is to try and re-sign one of their own from last season, preferring youth and athleticism over experience. In other words, their best bet might be to try and get Fields to sign with the team and hope for the very best. But barring a drastic change in offensive philosophy, and Fields overall ability, the Steelers are staring at the same situation in 2025 they find themselves in right now in 2025.

It’s a sad reality.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason.