On a day when their starting quarterback options continued to be reduced, the Pittsburgh Steelers remained in a holding pattern regarding the game’s most important position.

Russell Wilson, the starter at the end of the 2024 season, and 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers remained on the market as the Steelers contemplated how to proceed this season.

A day after Justin Fields went to the New York Jets and Sam Darnold received a $100 million contract from the Seattle Seahawks, the quarterback pool got shallower when Daniel Jones accepted a one-year, $14 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Six quarterbacks have switched teams since the NFL’s legal tampering period began Monday at noon, and the list includes backups Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Zach Wilson.

Steelers president Art Rooney II said in January that Wilson remained an option to return for a second season with the Steelers. General manager Omar Khan left the door ajar for Wilson when he spoke at the NFL Combine in February.

Yet Wilson remained unsigned Tuesday, an indication he likely isn’t even Plan B for the Steelers, who had hoped to keep Fields from exiting.

That leaves open the possibility of the Steelers signing Rodgers, who won’t become a free agent until he officially is released by the Jets, a move that is expected to transpire Wednesday at 4 p.m. when free agency begins.

The Jets could release Rodgers before then but would accrue $49 million in dead money against the salary cap. By designating the contract as a post-June 1 release, the Jets would be on the hook for $14 million in dead money, and they could spread out the remaining $35 million in future seasons.

Then, there is the issue of compensation. A former Super Bowl champion and four-time NFL MVP, Rodgers was scheduled to earn $23.5 million on his Jets deal. He could look for a significant pay increase in 2025 along with getting multiple years on his contract.

The Steelers balked at matching the Jets’ offer of $40 million, including $30 million guaranteed, for Fields over two seasons.

Wilson, meantime, earned just $1.2 million from the Steelers last year when the Denver Broncos were on the hook for the balance of his $40 million salary. But the 36-year-old quarterback, like Rodgers, owns a Super Bowl ring and is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection, and he may not accept a contract less than $25 million a season.

Also factoring in the game of musical chairs at quarterback is the New York Giants are without a veteran starter, and the Minnesota Vikings could want a veteran to pair with 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed his rookie season with an injury. The Vikings have lost three quarterbacks in free agency: Darnold, Jones and Mullens.

The Giants, however, could address their quarterback vacancy with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft.

Other quarterbacks who remain free agents and bring NFL starting experience are Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston and Carson Wentz. Potential backups include former Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Kyle Allen.

The second day of legal tampering was a quiet one at other positions, a contrast from Monday when the Steelers lost six starters on the open market and agreed to deals with cornerback Darius Slay and inside linebacker Malik Harrison.

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