Steelers Predicted to Open 2024 With Justin Fields as Starting QB
According to Seth Walder of ESPN, Justin Fields is predicted to assume the role of starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.
It seems like the speculation surrounding quarterback Justin Fields potentially joining the Pittsburgh Steelers via a trade has no limit.
According to Seth Walder of ESPN, it is projected that Fields will assume the role of Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback at the start of the 2024 season.
According to Walder, the Steelers do not have their future quarterback within their current roster. Kenny Pickett has failed to display significant improvement in two seasons while Mason Rudolph’s performance has been sporadic throughout his career and cannot be relied upon as a stable choice for the team moving forward.
Despite having a weak quarterback group, their ability to achieve 10 wins last season has led them to consider trading for Fields. His potential as a compatible player with their new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is worth exploring.
Less than a week following Field Yates’ suggestion that the Steelers should trade their 51st overall draft pick and a fourth-rounder in 2024 to acquire Fields from the Chicago Bears, Walder made his own prediction.
Fields, as a first-round pick in 2021, is currently not eligible for free agency until the conclusion of the 2025 season due to his inclusion of a fifth-year option. However, Spotrac has estimated that Fields’ market worth for a six-year agreement could reach up to $283.2 million.
Is a Trade for Justin Fields in the Works with the Steelers?
One of the most talked-about rumors in the early NFL offseason is about the Bears potentially trading Fields to the Steelers in exchange for draft picks.
On November 29th, Matt Lombardo, Fan Buzz’s Senior NFL insider suggested that Pittsburgh could be a potential landing spot for Fields. The speculation gained momentum after Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on February 12th that Head Coach Mike Tomlin holds a high regard for Fields.
Due to the Bears holding the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Fields may become trade bait. According to various mock drafts, Chicago is anticipated to select a fresh quarterback at No.1 with hopes of replacing Fields.
The Bears general manager Ryan Poles stated that the organization has not come to a decision regarding Fields and their top pick.
At the NFL combine, Poles informed the media that potential opportunities will ultimately determine their decision. However, they also mentioned their intention of doing right by Justin if such a path is taken. Ambiguity is not desirable for anyone involved and Poles wishes to avoid this situation altogether.
“We will gather the necessary information efficiently and without haste, taking time to carefully evaluate our options in order to determine what is best for the organization.”
Experts have linked the Steelers to Fields due to his greater potential compared to erstwhile top draft selection Kenny Pickett. Over 40 games, Fields has contributed a remarkable tally of 54 touchdowns and boasts an average per-carry figure (6.2) almost equivalent in magnitude as Pickett’s career yards-per-pass ratio (6.3).
While Walder did mention Mason Rudolph, it should be noted that Pickett is the sole quarterback who Pittsburgh has officially signed to a contract for 2024.
Reasons Why Trading for Fields Might Not Be a Good Idea for the Steelers.
There is a hint of irony in Walder’s assertion that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ future quarterback does not currently exist within their team. In contrast, during his postseason press conference on January 18th, head coach Mike Tomlin made statements almost contradicting this belief.
Despite not being the focal point of conversation, Tomlin confirmed that Pittsburgh’s roster may already have its starting quarterback for 2024 when he answered “yes” to a question on the topic.
On January 29, via Steelers.com’s Bob Labriola, Rooney stated that although Kenny Pickett has a promising future ahead of him, he is aware that exerting effort is necessary for him to progress.
Rudolph is also desired for re-signing by the Steelers, and this alongside confidence in Pickett plus hopeful anticipation of Rudolph’s return convinced Gerry Dulac from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that trading for Fields would not be an option.
Fields, according to Dulac, has significant issues that need to be addressed.
Dulac wrote that the Steelers were attracted to Fields’ versatility and ability to excel in various roles, such as showcased during his tenure with the Bears. Over three seasons, he tallied 6,674 passing yards, 2,220 rushing yards along with a total of 40 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.
However, what displeases them – and now seemingly the Bears as well – is that Fields’ record stands at 10-28 from his time as a starter; even withstanding an unfortunate rookie year where he won only two out of ten games. His tally for these last two seasons comes to eight wins versus twenty losses, despite boasting the league’s top rushing attack in 2022 and possessing number one ranked rush defense in 2023.
Despite such concerns, rumors of Fields joining the Steelers continue to persist without a slowdown. Unless Fields becomes unavailable or the Steelers pursue another quarterback path, these rumors are unlikely to wane.
