The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of question marks surrounding the future of the quarterback position. The team's 2022 first-round draft pick, Kenny Pickett, has had an up-and-down career through his first two seasons, and ended the 2023 season as the backup to Mason Rudolph. Rudolph is a free agent in the 2024 offseason, and it is unclear whether or not the Steelers will be able to bring him back. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has said he wants to bring in competition for Pickett at the quarterback position, and the perfect candidate for that role is believed to be available via trade.
Dylan Buell / Getty Images
Steelers Kenny Pickett (#8) throws to Pat Freiermuth (#88) in the middle of the field in Cincinnati, OH.
Steelers Could Make A Trade For Their Future Quarterback
The Steelers quarterback room will certainly look much different in 2024, with Pickett the only player likely to be a part of it. It is probable that the Steelers move on from Mitch Trubisky before the start of the 2024 season, and Rudolph has the freedom to find himself a new home through free agency. A great option to bring in will be Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears possess the first overall pick in 2024, and according to Benjamin Allbright, the Bears are set on drafting a new quarterback and trading Fields.
"I believe they'll trade Justin Fields and draft Caleb Williams. Everyone, unanimously that I've talked to, believes they're trading Justin Fields."
Caleb Williams is the likely number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has been tabbed as a generational prospect. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022, and is expected to be a superstar in the NFL. There were questions about whether or not the Bears would keep Fields and instead trade the number one pick for additional draft capital, but it seems they will be opting to trade Fields and use the pick on Williams.
Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times
Steelers' opponents' quarterback, Justin Fields
Like the Steelers, the Bears also have a vacancy at the offensive coordinator position. One of the candidates they have already interviewed for the position is former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury did not coach in the NFL during the 2023 season. He, instead, spent the year with the USC Trojans, where Williams was the quarterback. Kingsbury was an offensive assistant who worked closely with the quarterbacks, which is why the Bears interviewing him is a good sign that they will be moving on from Fields and selecting Williams.
Fields has also had an up-and-down career so far in the NFL, but the belief is that he has been held back by the Bears organization and a lot of the blame should be put on their coaching staff. There is still belief that Fields can be a good and effective quarterback in the NFL, and a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs.
Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports
Steelers potential 2024 quarterback, Justin Fields
Fields has shown flashes of excellence in the NFL, and he would certainly excel in an offense with weapons like George Pickens and Diontae Johnson. He finished ninth in MVP voting in 2022, and is also a weapon in the running game. In his career he has rushed for over 2,000 yards, including over 1,000 yards in the 2022 season alone. Fields would certainly be an upgrade from any quarterback that is currently on the Steelers roster, and the Steelers should at least inquire about possibly trading for the young quarterback.
There is always a lot of concern surrounding trades due to the asking price. It was reported earlier this year that the Bears would be asking for a second or third-round pick in a pre-draft trade for Fields. The Steelers will have both a second-round pick and a third-round pick in 2024, with the picks falling at 52 overall and 84 overall. The Bears would likely ask for the 52nd overall pick in the deal, which is certainly worth it for a quarterback with such a high ceiling.
What do you think about the Steelers possibly trading for Fields? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
