Report: Steelers Front Office Has ‘Fans of Justin Fields’ in It
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers actually end up acquiring Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the rumors around Justin Fields are hitting their apex this week. It all started when Adam Schefter said that head coach Mike Tomlin loved Fields, and from there, others have followed.
The Bears will have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and must decide whether they want to attempt to build around Fields or trade him and use that pick to land one of the top quarterbacks in the draft class, USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Fields took a small step forward in 2023, his third year as Chicago’s starting quarterback. The 24-year-old Ohio State alum threw 370 times, completing 227 for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw nine interceptions and maintained an 86.3 passer rating and a 5.29 adjusted net yards per attempt.
Last season, he was 192 of 318 for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, an 85.2 quarterback rating and 4.63 adjusted net yards per attempt.
And while Tomlin is reportedly a fan, he is not alone. According to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus, there are people in the front office that are big fans of Fields.
“I can also tell you, this is Super Bowl scuttlebutt, that there are some people in the front office that are also fans of Justin Fields,” Spielberger said on the Yinz Know Ball Podcast. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
The Bears have reportedly been fielding enough calls about Fields for most general managers to have an idea of what they’re looking for. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the Bears will certainly get a second-round pick and could land a first-rounder.
The Steelers started out as the team with the fourth-best odds to acquire Fields back in January, when they were at +1,200. Now, according to odds posted on Tuesday by DraftKings Sportsbook, the Steelers are the favorites at +110.
The Steelers are considered a more likely first-game destination for Justin Fields in 2024 than the Bears, who are second at +150. The Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots are third and fourth.
Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Bears — or another team, if he’s traded — must decide this offseason if they want to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract. That would be a guaranteed $25 million contract for 2025. The Bears or another club could also attempt to negotiate a traditional contract extension.
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