Steelers Nab Projected $283 Million QB in Blockbuster ESPN Trade Proposal

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Pittsburgh team is expected to swap a second-round pick and another selection in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears.

The speculation linking Pittsburgh Steelers to Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields persists among ESPN NFL analysts. One such analyst, Field Yates, took part in this conjecture on February 21 by proposing a potential offer that would enable the Steelers to acquire Fields.

Fields was suggested to be acquired by the Steelers from the Bears in exchange for their No. 51 pick and a fourth-round selection set for 2024, according to Yates’ proposal.

Although coach Mike Tomlin has expressed his backing of 2022 first-round pick quarterback Kenny Pickett, it would not be a bold statement to suggest that the Steelers should explore alternatives, according to Yates. He believes Fields’ inclusion in their offense could offer an exciting component and if he were Pittsburgh’s decision-maker, he would actively pursue this option.

Last season, the Steelers fell short of ranking amongst the top 20 teams in completion percentage (63.8%), touchdown passes (13), yards per attempt (6.8) and QBR (41.6).

Hypothetical trade offers for Fields from the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders were suggested by Yates. While the Falcons’ offer comprised only of a second-round pick, it is positioned eight picks ahead of Pittsburgh’s selection.

Fields was offered a third-round pick in 2024 and Hunter Renfrow, the wide receiver by Las Vegas.

Due to possessing the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, it is possible for Fields to be obtained via a trade by the Bears. The anticipated talent projected to hold first place overall is Caleb Williams, USC’s quarterback.

Yates proposed potential trade ideas for the Chicago Bears’ first-round selection, but omitted the Steelers from his list of possible teams.

Despite Fields having one year left on his rookie contract, it’s highly likely that any team trading for him will exercise their option to pick up his fifth-year.

A six-year deal was estimated by Spotrac to yield Fields a market value of $283 million for his upcoming contract.

It is expected that the Steelers are a top candidate to acquire quarterback Justin Fields.

During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on February 12, ESPN’s Adam Schefter referred to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin as being a “huge supporter” of Fields.

After three days, DraftKings updated their betting odds and labeled the Steelers as the top contender to have Fields play quarterback in the upcoming season. The buzz around this possibility has intensified over recent weeks following Schefter’s remarks and DraftKing’s update.

Fields’ exceptional highlight reel is due to his remarkable versatility as both a runner and passer, making the thought of him joining the black and gold team an enjoyable hypothetical.

The Steelers’ strategy in 2024 still seems to prioritize defense and a formidable running game, with the addition of Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator. The upcoming season holds high expectations for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who are anticipated to have impressive performances as running backs.

For the past two seasons, Smith’s Atlanta offense achieved a top 10 ranking in rushing yards. By incorporating Fields as an additional running threat in their lineup, the Steelers have the potential to become even more formidable on the ground.

Fields was the top rusher for the Bears, accumulating 657 yards in 2023. In addition, he claimed first place across all NFL players with an impressive average of 7.1 yards per carry during his performance in 2022.

It is unlikely that the Steelers will trade for Fields.

The idea that the Steelers may pursue Fields has been promoted by Schefter and DraftKings. However, neither local reporters nor the team itself have provided much evidence to back up such a trade occurring in Pittsburgh.

Tomlin announced to the media during his press conference on January 18th that Pittsburgh has their starting quarterback for the year 2024 already enlisted in their current roster.

Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on February 17 that the Steelers have no intention to acquire a fresh starting quarterback.

According to Dulac, they have pledged to provide Pickett with a third season in order to determine if he is capable of achieving more than just winning one playoff game – which the franchise hasn’t accomplished in seven years.

The Steelers may not find it financially viable to acquire Fields unless they alter their stance on Pickett.

Fields is projected to have a $6 million cap hit in 2024, but his team will need to make a decision regarding the extension of his fifth-year option by May.

According to a post by the X account on Steelers Depot (formerly Twitter), many people are still unaware that if the Steelers acquire Justin Fields via trade, they will be obligated to exercise his 5th year option for $21.978M in 2025 with full guarantee. This also implies that he would become their automatic starting quarterback from 2024 onwards without any competition and they will have him exclusively for two seasons.

By acquiring the Bears quarterback, they would be obligated to pay Fields a salary of almost $28 million.

Kaboly from The Athletic expressed skepticism towards the idea of offering Fields a high draft pick and $25 million guaranteed before he even plays for your team.

To retain Fields, it is probable that the Steelers would have to propose a deal of nearly $283 million.