It’s by no means too early to start out desirous about subsequent season. Professional Soccer Focus put collectively a preliminary checklist of the highest 50 pending free brokers come March of 2025. And the highest quarterback on their checklist resides in Pittsburgh. Justin Fields is the No. 1 quarterback set to develop into a free agent and took the Twelfth-overall spot on PFF’s checklist. He was one in all two Steelers to look on there, joined by OG James Daniels at No. 40.
On Fields, the positioning acknowledges his worth at quarterback provides him a lift of their rankings.
“Are there higher gamers decrease down this checklist than Fields? In all probability. Nevertheless, the worth of the quarterback place elevates him to a fringe top-10 free agent at this level. His 73.0 PFF passing grade ranks eleventh within the league this season, placing him on tempo for a career-best in that class.”
It’s why quarterbacks receives a commission the massive bucks. After garnering little commerce curiosity this offseason, Fields is poised to have a way more energetic market if he continues his play. His manufacturing hasn’t regarded spectacular, however he’s extra correct and fewer mistake-prone than in Chicago. Fields’ completion proportion is simply 6 factors, his interception charge has slashed to beneath 1 p.c, and his sack charge is within the single digits for the primary time in his profession.
As PFF notes, they’re grading him greater than ever, too. Nonetheless, there are questions on his skill to carry onto the beginning job, and it seems like an open query who will begin in Week 7 towards the New York Jets.
If Fields holds onto the job and retains enjoying nicely, Pittsburgh’s high precedence will likely be that he doesn’t see free company. That can come at a price. Placing even a ballpark price ticket is tough mid-way via a season, however a $30 million-per-year ground is an effective place to start out. That may give him an identical contract to what Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield acquired previous to 2024, and Fields would possible look to get extra.
He is only one of two quarterbacks on the checklist, one slot above the Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold, who’s having a resurgent season. An absence of free company choices coupled by a questionable draft class would make Fields all of the extra beneficial—and all of the dearer.
Daniels would’ve positioned greater on this checklist had it not been for a torn Achilles in Week 4 that ended his season. Previous to the harm, he was set to be paid huge bucks this offseason and be out of the Steelers’ vary. Now, his market worth and future are unsure, although this truly will increase the chances he returns to Pittsburgh.
Miami Dolphins FS Jevon Holland is the No. 1 participant on PFF’s checklist, a reputation not well-known within the nationwide media however one of many league’s higher safeties. Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs OG Trey Smith spherical out the rostrum.
After all, many of those names might come off the checklist based mostly on efficiency, well being, and gamers being re-signed or franchise-tagged. Nonetheless, it’s a helpful information and start line to start evaluating the place and who the Steelers might goal.
