The Pittsburgh Steelers are emerging as strong contenders to acquire Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, provided the Bears decide to part ways with him this offseason.
The Chicago Bears, armed with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, face a critical decision regarding Fields. They must determine whether to build their future around Fields or trade him and use the top pick to secure one of the highly touted quarterbacks in this draft class, such as USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Fields made noticeable progress in 2023, his third season as the Bears’ starting quarterback. The 24-year-old former Ohio State standout attempted 370 passes, completing 227 of them for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns. He did have nine interceptions, maintaining an 86.3 passer rating and a 5.29 adjusted net yards per attempt.
Comparatively, in the previous season, Fields completed 192 of 318 passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with an 85.2 quarterback rating and a 4.63 adjusted net yards per attempt.
Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Bears face a pivotal decision regarding whether to exercise his fifth-year option, guaranteeing him a $25 million contract for 2025. Alternatively, they could engage in negotiations for a traditional contract extension.
This uncertainty has led many to speculate that the Bears might opt to move on from Fields and usher in a new era with Williams or Maye, solidifying their rebuild with a new quarterback under a fresh, five-year deal.
Reports suggest that the Bears have been fielding inquiries about Justin Fields, giving most general managers a sense of what they might demand in return. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, if the Bears decide to part ways with Fields before the draft, they are likely to fetch a second- or third-round pick in return.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently facing an unsettled future at the quarterback position. While Kenny Pickett, under contract for 2024 and 2025, has been benched in favor of Mason Rudolph, there are indications that the team remains committed to him. Rudolph is set to become a free agent, and former No. 2 pick Mitch Trubisky is likely to be released from his contract.
Could the Steelers be eyeing Fields as a potential addition to their quarterback mix? The asking price is expected to be reasonable, with the Steelers possessing seven selections in the 2024 draft and a potential need to bolster their quarterback position in light of possible departures like Trubisky or Rudolph.
However, such a move would deviate from the Steelers’ historical approach to team building, which is evident in their position in the odds to acquire Fields. According to odds posted by IllinoisBet.com, the Steelers have the fourth-best odds to land Fields, albeit with relatively long odds. They stand at +1,200 to become Fields’ next team, implying a 7.7% chance.
Leading the pack are the Atlanta Falcons at +475, followed by the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders at +900. The Steelers share their odds with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, all at +1,200. Notably, there is a field option with odds of +150, indicating a 40% chance that Justin Fields remains with the Chicago Bears.
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