The Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, according to Ian Rapoport and multiple sources confirmed to Steelers Now. Pittsburgh traded their young quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, and have now landed Fields.
The compensation will be a sixth-round pick that can become a conditional fourth-round pick for the Bears.
Leading up the deal, multiple sources described the market Fields has in the NFL was described by sources as ‘lukewarm,’, and the difference between the trade occurring to most teams at this point is the price that Chicago believes is fair for Fields. Pittsburgh had talks or preliminary interest in a potential Fields trade dating back to the NFL Combine, but the price was too high.
This price, however, made sense for the Steelers to go out and acquire Fields.
Asked specifically at the NFL Combine about potentially trading for Fields, general manager Omar Khan said that he would not get into specifics about the conversations he’s had around the league. Khan had the same answer when asked if the Steelers have an interest in Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson. Khan was not permitted to discuss players currently under contract to other teams, at any rate. Obviously, they ended up signing Wilson. Now, they traded for Justin Fields.
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.
Justin Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Steelers 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 Steelers could negotiate a traditional contract extension.