Grabbing Russell Wilson instead of Justin Fields could be costly QB mistake for Steelers

Russell Wilson isn’t going to cost the Pittsburgh Steelers much … except maybe a bona fide opportunity at serious Super Bowl contention.

The news emerged late Sunday night that "Mr. Unlimited" was set to expand Pittsburgh’s depth chart later this week, once the Broncos make his release official. Per reports, the Steelers will essentially pay Wilson the veteran’s minimum ($1.2 million), while Denver kicks in roughly $38 million for him not to be in the Mile High City. Wilson seemed to confirm the development, posting on X, "Year 13. Grateful. @Steelers." (Just wait until he learns "Here We Go, Steelers" is what gets the Steel City faithful fired up. Maybe he’ll even download a little Styx.)

Regardless, it’s a low-cost, high-ceiling move by a team that needed to do something behind center after injured and generally unimpressive 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett was effectively replaced by longtime third-stringer Mason Rudolph late last season, the latter going 3-0 down the stretch and narrowly threading Pittsburgh into postseason.

Yet it feels like a concession by coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan, who surely could have taken a low-ish cost, higher-ceiling swing at filling Ben Roethlisberger’s still-lingering void by trading for Justin Fields, who remains in apparent limbo on the Chicago Bears’ roster.

Admittedly, there’s no way to know what Chicago’s Ryan Poles, who’s widely expected to take 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams of USC atop the 2024 draft, is asking for Fields – whom the GM said he wanted to "do right" by at the recently completed scouting combine. The closest thing to a recent precedent would seem to be the New York Jets’ divestment of Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 – he didn’t replicate Fields’ upside through three seasons – in 2021 for a second-, fourth-, and sixth-rounder (spread over two drafts) from the Carolina Panthers. Even if Poles needed some sweetener, wouldn’t it be worth it for Fields, who’s under contract for 2024, has a fifth-year option available for 2025 and could be franchised, if need be, beyond that – that avenue requiring a good outcome anyway?

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Let’s acknowledge here that Wilson played well – at least quite efficiently – in 2023, which was a notable improvement over his first year in Denver. But he’ll be 36 this season, has lost some juice from his legs and zip from his once legendary deep ball, and – despite how involved he’ll get in a local community – isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea (or swig of Iron City Beer) in the locker room or grandstand. And a one-year contract is little more than a Band-Aid for an issue that’s truthfully lingered since Big Ben went into steep decline late in his career and could well continue to fester in 2024 and quite likely beyond.

But Fields?

He can shed pass rushers like prime Roethlisberger. He’s a more dangerous runner out of the pocket than prime Wilson. He’s a highly capable passer – something he displayed consistently at Ohio State – and flashed again in the Windy City when finally coupled with a top-tier receiver like DJ Moore. It would be reasonable to expect Fields to elevate an offense with talents like George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in ways Pickett never has. And let’s not forget new coordinator Arthur Smith, who turned Ryan Tannehill into a Pro Bowler with the Tennessee Titans despite hardly asking him to carry the attack. Fields has better tools than Tannehill.

And Fields, with his Big Ten background and stiff upper lip, just seems like he would have more easily become an honorary Yinzer.

He said of his predicament last month on the "St. Brown Brothers" podcast: "I ain’t got no control over it. Whatever happens, happens. I think the biggest thing with all this going on right now, I just want it to be over. Like, just let me know if I’m getting traded, let me know if I’m staying."

Hardly a complaint. Frankly, a reasonably request from a guy who’s pretty much taken it on the chin without complaint for three seasons in Chicago, where he was rarely surrounded by a supporting cast that could enable him to legitimately thrive – very much like Darnold in New York, circa 2019.

But Fields doesn’t seem like damaged goods who's seeing ghosts. For whatever it’s worth, there’s a huge contingent of Bears fans who want to keep him … whereas Broncos Country (and coach Sean Payton) basically couldn’t wait to write Wilson a one-way ticket to anywhere.

Fields very much seems like he could have been the missing piece for an organization that’s always been competitive under Tomlin but hasn’t won in the postseason for seven years – not to mention helping them significantly close the gap at easily the league’s most important position in a division that includes reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson, probable future MVP Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson. Yet though the Steelers were willing to rescue a first-rounder with a first-rounder in 2019 – All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, albeit during his second year with the Miami Dolphins – to liberate him from a suboptimal scenario, apparently they weren’t willing to sufficiently ante up for Fields.

"No one wants to live in the gray," Poles said of Fields last month. "I know that's uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to be in that situation, either."

Too bad he and the Steelers didn’t "do right" by Fields by figuring out how to let him live in black and gold.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.