As the newest quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Justin Fields joins Russell Wilson in a redesigned quarterback room, giving the team a lot more flexibility at the position.
Fields was acquired by the Steelers on March 16, and they arguably improved Wilson’s backup quarterback position and maybe generated serious competition for Wilson in 2024 and beyond.
Following a trade that sent former first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers
What wasn’t so easy to anticipate was the price to acquire Fields, in what was a far more depressed market than many believed at the onset of the NFL offseason.
That’s quite a bargain for a quarterback who had been chosen No. 11 overall, and who has passed for 6,674 yards with 40 touchdowns to 30 interceptions through his first three seasons, while adding 2,220 rushing yards and 14 more scores.
This is the definition of a buy extremely low with sky-high upside proposition for the Steelers.
In an absolute worst case scenario, Fields arrives in Pittsburgh, whether the Steelers pick up his fifth-year option or not, with one season to learn behind Wilson and as an insurance policy on a veteran quarterback who hasn’t played a full season since 2020.
Not to mention, the value in swapping what will, at most, be a fourth-round draft choice but on its face is a meager sixth-round selection for a former No. 11 overall pick in the draft with 40 career games and 40 passing touchdowns on his NFL resumé.
