Steelers Make It Official And Decline 5th-Year Option For QB Justin Fields

The Steelers were able to get Fields from the Chicago Bears for next to nothing. All it took was a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 that moves down to a fourth if the quarterback plays over 51% of snaps. Some might say that is incredible value for a talented player that has yet to reach his potential. He is going to start the 2024 season as the second-string behind Wilson, but don't count out him being strategically placed on the field in certain packages.

The next big component to this is that no one should be surprised if he lands some kind of extension prior to the season beginning. Pittsburgh has a chance to give him an extra year or two at a much better price than $25 million, given the fact that he's not even expected to be the top signal-caller on the roster. It would be an extremely low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers.

Fields was the 11th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. No one is comparing the two, but that's the same spot Ben Roethlisberger went back in 2004. The city of Pittsburgh is hoping the two end up having something in common, however. With Wilson turning 36 in 2024, Fields has to have his mind on being the franchise quarterback of the future in the Steel City, just as Roethlisberger was for 18 years.

The 25-year old wasn't put in a great spot to succeed in Chicago, putting together a 10-28 record in his three seasons. While his numbers through the air aren't going to impress anybody, he has 2,220 career rushing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was thrown into the fire almost immediately as a rookie, starting by Week 3.

Time will tell if Fields becomes the long-term solution at the position for the Steelers, but he was certainly worth bringing in given the draft compensation the Bears settled for. For now, he remains under contract for just 2024, but an extension is likely being discussed. He is a dynamic play-maker with the potential to blossom if he plays within the right system.

Steelers Likely Have Plan At Quarterback Beyond 2024 Despite Contract Statuses

With Wilson, Fields and Allen all officially playing on one-year deals, some may question what the heck the plan is moving forward for Khan and co. Overall, there is a plan behind the scenes and depending on how Wilson plays early in 2024, both he and Fields could receive some sort of extensions in order to solidify the room for more than one season. There's also the possibility of Fields taking over if Wilson struggles, and the 2021 first-rounder never looking back.