Before the Chicago Bears sold quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer, the Steelers were among the top contenders for Fields.
The Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons were among the teams that Fields had his eye on when it became apparent that the Bears were trying to sell him, according to reports from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. This action was taken as the Bears prepared to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft—likely Caleb Williams of USC—with the first overall choice.
In a deal that was finalized on March 16, the Bears sent Fields to the Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025. This selection may move up to the fourth round in 2024 if Fields plays 51 percent or more of the offensive snaps for the Steelers.
The Bears selected Fields with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft in the hopes that he would develop into the franchise quarterback that the team had long desired, similar to 1940s Hall of Famer Sid Luckman.
During his tenure as the starter, Fields showcased moments of brilliance, notably rushing for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022. Despite missing four games due to injury, he demonstrated his best passing performance in 2023, completing 61.4 percent of his attempts for 2,562 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
However, the Bears struggled to secure wins with Fields at the helm, managing just a 10-28 record in his 38 starts, including a 5-8 record last season. The Bears’ decision to trade Fields and potentially select Williams as their new franchise quarterback indicates a strategic shift in their approach.
The return the Bears received for Fields in the trade was considered surprisingly low, attributed in part to most teams having already addressed their quarterback situations by the time the trade took place.
Of the teams Fields had reportedly shown interest in, the Steelers had already secured veteran Russell Wilson, the Falcons acquired Kirk Cousins, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold, and the Raiders enlisted Gardner Minshew to compete with Aidan O’Connell.
Both the Raiders and Vikings remain in the running to add quarterbacks early in the draft, indicating a preference for that avenue over acquiring Fields.
In Pittsburgh, Fields begins his journey as the clear backup to Wilson. However, there remains the possibility for Fields to take over should Wilson struggle or sustain an injury. Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, has faced challenges in recent years, particularly during his tenure with the Denver Broncos.
The Steelers, despite making the playoffs as a wild-card team last season, struggled with quarterback play. Therefore, even moderate performance from Wilson in 2024 would be a significant improvement.
Nevertheless, if Wilson fails to meet expectations, Fields could seize the opportunity to prove himself and potentially secure a long-term role with the Steelers.
The acquisition of Fields represents a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers, providing an opportunity for Fields to rebuild his value in a new environment.
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