Jets insider predicts Justin Fields will choose New York over Steelers

The Steelers didn’t do much to give George Pickens help in 2024, and it showed. They lacked a strong secondary receiver, leaving Pickens to carry the load most games. That can’t happen again in 2025.
Longtime Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly recently predicted that Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk might end up in Pittsburgh next season. Kaboly shared his thoughts during a Q&A session on January 17, giving his early projection for the Steelers’ 2025 starting lineup.
Here’s what he said:
Projected Steelers 2025 Offense:
Outside of Fields replacing Russell Wilson at quarterback and Warren stepping in for Najee Harris, Kirk is the biggest addition Kaboly sees coming. The Steelers reportedly almost traded for Kirk before the 2024 trade deadline, but a collarbone injury derailed those plans. Now, Kaboly thinks the team might revisit the idea.
Kirk is still under contract with the Jaguars through 2026, thanks to a four-year, $72 million deal he signed in 2022. For the Steelers to land him, one of two things would need to happen:
If the Jags cut him before June 1, they’d save about $10.4 million but take on a dead cap hit of $13.65 million. Designating him as a post-June 1 release would save them $16.2 million, reducing the dead cap hit to $7.884 million.
The deciding factor could be Jacksonville’s coaching situation. If Doug Pederson stays in charge, Kirk might stick around. But with coaching changes in play, it’s up in the air—and Kaboly thinks the Jags could let him go.
Another big question mark is George Pickens. Kaboly admitted it’s too early to say if Pickens will still be with the Steelers in 2025. There are several factors at play:
March 12, the start of free agency, could be the key date for answers. If the Steelers land a WR1 in free agency, Kaboly believes they might consider moving Pickens.
Let’s be clear—Kirk wouldn’t come in as the Steelers’ WR1. He’d be more of a solid WR2/3 and a complementary piece to the offense. If the Steelers trade Pickens, they’d still need to bring in a high-level WR1 alongside Kirk. That could mean signing two veteran receivers or signing one and drafting another.
For now, it’s all speculation. But with so many moving parts, the Steelers’ wide receiver room could look very different in 2025. Stay tuned!
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