Steelers Predicted to Start Season With Projected $283 Million QB Behind Center
There appears to be no end to the rumors that quarterback Justin Fields could land with the Pittsburgh Steelers through a trade.
ESPN’s Seth Walder projected on February 27 that Fields will be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback when the 2024 season begins.
“The Steelers’ next quarterback is not currently on the roster,” Walder wrote. “Kenny Pickett hasn’t shown enough improvement over the past two seasons, and Mason Rudolph has played well in a few starts, but he hasn’t had enough consistency in his career to be a safe option going forward.” isn’t it. “The fact that they managed to record 10 wins last season despite a weak QB group makes them trade candidates for Fields and could be a good fit for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. ”
Walder’s prediction comes a week after ESPN’s Field Yates suggested the Steelers would trade the 51st overall pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Fields. It was announced shortly after.
Fields, a 2021 first-round pick, has a fifth-year option and won’t become a free agent until after the 2025 season. But Spotrac already projects his market value at $283.2 million over a six-year deal.
Will the Steelers trade Justin Fields? The Bears drafting Fields to the Steelers became one of the most popular rumors of the NFL offseason.
Fan Buzz senior NFL insider Matt Lombardo first mentioned Pittsburgh as a possible destination for Fields on Nov. 29. The rumor started when ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on February 12 that head coach Mike Tomlin was a big fan of Fields.
The Bears own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so land could be acquired in a trade. NFL mock drafts projected Chicago to take a new No. 1 pick in place of Fields.
However, Bears general manager Ryan Pauls said the team has not yet decided what to do with Fields and the No. 1 pick. “It depends on what opportunities come along,” the Pole told the media at an NFL game. “I’ll tell you this: If we go down this path, I want to follow in Justin’s footsteps. No one wants to live in the gray. I know it’s embarrassing. I don’t want to be in that situation either.
“Then we’ll start gathering information. We will respond as soon as possible. I’m not going to rush it. You’ll know what happens and what’s best for your organization.
Pundits are pinning the Steelers on Fields because he has a better chance than former first-round pick Kenny Pickett. In Fields’ 40 career games he has scored 54 touchdowns on his passes. He also averaged about the same yards per carry (6.2) as Pickett’s through the air (6.3) during his career.
Walder also mentioned Mason Rudolph, but Pickett is currently the only Pittsburgh quarterback under contract through 2024. Why the Steelers shouldn’t trade land
It’s a bit ironic that Walder made it clear that Pittsburgh’s next quarterback is not currently on the team’s roster. Head coach Mike Tomlin said almost the opposite in his Jan. 18 postseason press conference. The question wasn’t about the team’s quarterback, but when asked if Pittsburgh’s 2024 starting signalman is already on the team’s roster, Tomlin answered “yes.”
Steelers president Art Rooney II also expressed confidence in Pickett this offseason. “We’re still happy with Kenny Pickett and his future, but we know he’s going to have to work hard to take the next step,” Looney said on Jan. 29, when the Steelers announced via Bob Labriola of Dotcom.
The Steelers have also expressed their desire to re-sign Rudolph. Confidence in Pickett and expectations for Rudolph’s return were two reasons Jerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette insisted the Steelers would not trade Fields.
Dulac also said Fields is a major concern. “What (the Steelers) liked about Fields (during the draft) was his mobility and versatile skill set, which he showed at times in his three seasons with the Bears – 6,674 passing yards, 2,222 passing yards. , 40 passing touchdowns.” , 14 rushing touchdowns,” Dulac wrote.
“But what they don’t like, and what the Bears obviously don’t like, is that Fields had a disastrous 2-8 rookie season and is now 10-28 as a starter. is. He went 8-20 over the past two seasons, but led the league in rushing offense in 2022 and first in rushing defense in 2023.
But despite these concerns, the Fields vs. Steelers rumors haven’t slowed down just yet. Nothing will happen until Fields becomes unavailable or the Steelers make another move at quarterback.
