The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a pleasant surprise so far during the 2024 NFL season. They have begun the season with an unblemished, 3-0 record, thanks to the play of Justin Fields at the quarterback position. Fields wasn't supposed to be the staring quarterback for Pittsburgh in 2024, as Russell Wilson was also acquired during the offseason. Wilson has been sidelined with an ongoing calf issue, and Fields has taken full advantage of the opportunities that have been presented to him.
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Steelers' Justin Fields shines in his home debut as Pittsburgh defeats the Los Angeles Chargers.
Sunday was Fields' first regular season game at Acrisure Stadium, and he impressed mightily. Pittsburgh won the contest 20-10, while Fields threw for 245 yards, a touchdown, and ran in a score in the first half. He has improved with each start, and many believe Pittsburgh has found their quarterback of the future. This belief is shared by former NFL quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger (who mentioned it on his podcast), and Tony Romo (who shared this while calling the game Sunday).
Former NFL General Manager Doug Whaley made an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday. Whaley has plenty of experience serving in positions in different front offices, including Pittsburgh. He was asked about Fields and his performance through the first three games of the year.
"When Fields left Chicago, everybody in that locker room loved that guy. Lay down and take a bullet for that guy. It’s showing in his play now. He just needed to be in circumstances that could help foster his ability."
Fields has always had a ton of potential. His former teammates with the Chicago Bears loved him, and often defended him against the local media after it became clear the organization would be selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. It was the smart decision for the Bears to draft a new quarterback and restart the countdown on a rookie contract, but Williams hasn't looked great in his rookie season so far, which could be causing some concern in Chicago.
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Steelers' Justin Fields warms up before Week 1 against the Falcons.
The fourth-year quarterback is only signed through the 2024 season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers declined his fifth-year option after trading for him, which means he will be a free agent during the 2025 offseason. His play so far has been inspiring, and he could certainly be a franchise quarterback for the Steelers. Whaley spoke about this during his radio appearance, where he gave some insight into what General Manager Omar Khan and ownership may be thinking.
"If I’m Omar, I go into Art [Rooney] and ask, 'What are you willing to pay this guy,' because if he continues on this trajectory, you are talking $40-$50 million. Are we ready to do that?"
Pittsburgh doesn't conduct contract business during the season, which is a big reason both Pat Freiermuth and Cam Heyward got their deals done before Week 1. If the organization wants to keep Fields around, they should start thinking about what they would be willing to give him, but they won't approach him with any sort of deal until the season is completely finished. They also need a much larger sample size than just three games.
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Steelers' Justin Fields throws the football during Friday Night Lights.
Steelers May Need To Make Fields One Of The Highest Paid Quarterbacks In The League
According to Spotrac, Fields' current market value sits at $283 million over six years. That is an average of $47.1 million per season, which would make him the sixth-highest paid quarterback in the league. It may seem a little bit ridiculous to consider this after just three games, but if he continues to improve in the way he has, he may be worth a contract like that.
It will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh operates the rest of the season with their current quarterback, especially if Wilson ever returns to full health. Head Coach Mike Tomlin will continue to play Fields if he gives the team the best chance to win, and if he can continue to win a play well throughout the remainder of the season, he may earn a fairly large contract in Pittsburgh.
What do you think the organization should do regarding Fields' future? Let us know in the comments below!
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