ESPN Projects Trade That Would Bring Justin Fields to Steelers

The realistic packages have varied if the Pittsburgh Steelers are interested in landing Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The theories have been anything from a first-round pick to maybe a third-round pick and some change to get it done.

Appearing on ESPN 1000, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes that not only will the Bears not move off the first overall pick, but that they can get a solid haul for Fields, whether that be from the Steelers or another team.

“I think the Bears could get a premium pick, a second-rounder, maybe more,” Rapoport said. “They’re in a really good spot getting so many picks no matter what they do.”

But ESPN did their own trade projection on Wednesday. Field Yates concocted a potential deal that he thinks makes sense for Pittsburgh and Chicago. The final results? a 2024 second-round pick and one of their fourth-round picks to land Fields.

“While coach Mike Tomlin recently pledged support for quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was a 2022 first-round pick, I would not be going out on a limb by proclaiming the Steelers need to consider other options. Fields would provide a dynamic dimension to the Steelers’ offense, and I’d be pursuing this aggressively if I were Pittsburgh. The Steelers ranked outside the top 20 in completion percentage (63.8%), touchdown passes (13), yards per attempt (6.8) and QBR (41.6) last season,” Yates wrote.

It’s unknown if the Steelers, or even Fields himself, would want to make a run at the partnership. Though, it is clear that Fields at least wants the saga about his future to end.

“Of course I want to stay,” Fields said on the St. Brown Brothers Podcast. “I can’t see myself playing in another place. If it was up to me, I would want to stay in Chicago. I love the city. The city’s lit. The fans are great. It’s a business; I ain’t got no control over it. The biggest thing with all this going on [is] I just want to it to be over. Let me know if I’m getting traded [or] let me know if I’m staying.”

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.

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.