Charlie Batch Believes Steelers Should Give Ultimatum To Justin Fields And Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers once again find themselves in quarterback purgatory after having Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on one-year contracts for 2024. Art Rooney II has said he would like to see one of them return, and General Manager Omar Khan reiterated that message despite acknowledging they are both free agents. The reality is the Steelers' choices might be limited. There are reports that other teams are courting Fields and that there is division among the staff on who they prefer.    

Recently, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward had some very special guests on his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward. They included some Black and Gold legends: Jerome Bettis, James Harrison, and Charlie Batch. All three former players know what it takes to win a Super Bowl in the NFL. Bettis won one in his final season, and both Harrison and Batch helped the Steelers win two. 

The always gregarious Harrison took over the show's hosting. He asked Batch, an 11-year backup in Pittsburgh who now works for KDKA as a color commentator, who he would pick as the 2025 quarterback if he got to play general manager. 

"Right now, it's going to come down to dollars, that's what it's going to come down to," explained Batch. "What I would do is set the number; here's what the price is, first one to take it. That's who's going to be here. Long way of saying I don't think either one of them is going to be here potentially."

Harrison followed up by asking him about possible free agent candidates. Batch said there are just not many quarterbacks available on the free agent market. He said the one who comes to mind first is Sam Darnold, but he doesn't think they should or will throw that kind of money at someone unproven when they have so many other holes to fill on the roster. He said fans cannot forget that they will almost certainly have to pay a quarterback this year. They got spoiled by having both Wilson and Fields for less than most teams pay for a single starter. 

There have been several quarterbacks whose names have been thrown out as possible options. That includes Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and even Daniel Jones. There isn't an option that most insiders agree is a slam dunk; they all come with some negatives. 

Another Steelers Hall Of Famer Sees It Slightly Differently

Harrison posed the same questions to Bettis, who played for multiple quarterbacks in Pittsburgh, including Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, and Ben Roethlisberger. He knows exactly how hard it is to find a franchise guy. 

Bettis said he looks at it differently. He said he would keep Wilson with the caveat that they are planning on moving up in the 2025 NFL Draft to select the future face of the franchise. If they do not believe there is a player of that caliber that they can obtain, then he would keep Fields. He said he would hope that they could help Fields develop, considering all of his incredible athletic ability, into a solid starting quarterback. If they can work with Fields, it will buy them time to search for a quarterback in another year's draft.  

When asked about potential free agent quarterbacks, Bettis said he doesn't think there is a guy out there who is a good fit for Pittsburgh. The Steelers need to ensure they keep either one of the players who are already familiar with the offense. 

Who do you want to see under center for the Steelers in 2025? Tell us what you think below!