The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation will be a hot topic throughout the offseason.
That became clear Monday when Chicago’s Justin Fields’ name was added to the list of quarterbacks Pittsburgh might be interested in acquiring.Fields, a former first-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Chicago Bears.
However, Fields’ future is a big question mark considering the Bears hold the No. 1 and No. 9 picks in this year’s draft.On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Steelers would draft some sort of veteran quarterback this offseason, “whether it’s Ryan Tannehill, whether it’s Russell Wilson, whether it’s Justin Fields.” Schefter added on “The Pat McAfee Show” that there is something. to keep in mind in the coming weeks: “Mike Tomlin is a big fan of Justin Fields.”
Pittsburgh will have to make a quarterback decision soon, he said. see profileFields’ career so far has been characterized by ups and downs. It’s fair to say that so far he hasn’t been put in the best situation to succeed.
He was sacked a whopping 135 times during his three years in Chicago, including a career-high 55 times in 2022. In addition to poor offensive play, Fields isn’t even surrounded by players with the best skills.Despite these obstacles, Fields continued to improve, albeit somewhat slowly. Last season, he threw a career-low nine interceptions.
He also set a career high in passing yards and led the Bears to five wins, the same total he had in his first two seasons combined. Fields also averaged 5.3 yards per carry per season after compiling the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history.Pittsburgh got a glimpse of Fields’ potential during his rookie season. In front of a Monday Night Football crowd, Fields threw for a record 291 yards, nearly leading the Bears to an upset victory over the Steelers.
Since he is under contract, the Steelers would have to compensate the Bears for Fields’ services, likely in the form of draft picks.
That could determine whether the Steelers actually pursue Fields, who also has a fifth-year option.
Fields isn’t the only veteran quarterback whose name has been linked to Pittsburgh recently. Tannehill, who has thrived in Nashville under new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, is also a name to keep an eye on. And while a veteran will likely be added to Pittsburgh’s roster, it appears that Mason Rudolph would prefer to pursue a fresh start elsewhere rather than return to the Steelers, where he will primarily serve as a backup.Whoever the Steelers land this offseason will be competing with Kenny Pickett for the starting job. Pickett, who is entering his third season in Pittsburgh, is certainly hoping to perform at his best after an injury ended his 2023 season prematurely.