The Pittsburgh Steelers have already been rumored to have interest in many quarterbacks outside the organization, and the rumor mill keeps churning. It seemed to have settled down for a little bit, as reports came out about the Atlanta Falcons closing in on a trade for Justin Fields, the top quarterback on the market. Instead of taking that idea and running with it, Adam Schefter pushed back on that idea, claiming the report was false and that a trade to Atlanta would be "something of a surprise."
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Chicago Bears' Justin Fields (1) keeps his eyes forward while running with the ball during an NFL game.
Instead, Schefter went on SportsCenter and claimed that only a few teams had any interest in Fields. He named the Las Vegas Raiders as another option, but it's highly unlikely that Fields and Luke Getsy, offensive coordinator of the Raiders, would want a reunion. The other team that Schefter mentions as a likely landing spot is the Steelers, who are still the favorites to acquire him.
"“There’s been a lot of speculation on Atlanta,” Schefter said. “I think Atlanta will be something of a surprise right now to trade for Justin Fields. There’s been some conversation about the Pittsburgh Steelers, maybe something can be figured out there.
The Steelers would make the most sense for a quarterback acquisition, as they are not in position to draft any of the top quarterbacks in the draft due to where they select. Omar Khan previously stated that there would be competition with Kenny Pickett for the starting quarterback position. Fields has tremendous upside due to his elite running capabilities, and could be a great fit under the Steelers' new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith.
Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan speaks to members of the media at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN.
How Would Steelers-Bears Trade Potentially Work?
If Schefter's report on the lack of interest for Fields is true, the Steelers could try and get him at a lowered value. On the other hand, Fields is arguably the best chance for the Steelers to have a true upgrade at the quarterback position. Any other free agent or trade acquisition would be nothing more than a bridge quarterback at this point, and that's if any of those quarterbacks can beat out Pickett in the upcoming quarterback competition. Fields would likely be the starter immediately if the Steelers do acquire him, and that could help his value out.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has a tough act to follow after a stellar 2023 NFL Draft.
How Would Steelers-Bears Trade Look?
Schefter himself claimed that the price to acquire Fields would be a second-round pick along with a mid-round pick. The tug-of-war for leverage will continue until free agency, as the Chicago Bears are hoping to get a deal done before that starts. Their self-imposed deadline could hurt them more than help. The Steelers have gotten picks back in almost every trade they've made where they acquire someone in recent seasons, and that would likely continue.
The Steelers could either give up a future second-round pick or use their 2024 second and get a pick back, likely a fifth-round pick. They would get their quarterback and secure another pick, while getting their quarterback before the new league year begins. They could also make their second-round pick conditional, giving them some wiggle room in case Fields does not work out for them.
What do you think about Adam Schefter's report on the Steelers having more conversations with the Bears about Justin Fields, as well as what it would take to make a trade happen? Will a trade get done in the first place? What would you give up to acquire Fields? Let us know in the comments.
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