Steelers May Have Dodged A Bullet As Jets Could Absolutely Be Concerned Early On With Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still anxiously awaiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision on his future. It has been a rollercoaster of an offseason regarding the quarterback position in the Steel City. Unfortunately, this has been the case since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 campaign. Many thought that Justin Fields could potentially be the future for the organization after a solid 4-2 start to the 2024 season. Once 2025 free agency rolled around, however, the elusive signal-caller decided that there was a better opportunity with the New York Jets.

Fields will be the starter for the Jets after signing a two-year deal worth $40 million. This should give him the chance to prove himself in an environment that sees him as the unquestioned top individual on the depth chart. It will be interesting to track his progress, as the Steelers could potentially be criticized by the fan base for allowing him to walk. That is, if he has success in New York.

As the Jets got some offseason workouts in, all eyes were on Fields, according to SNYtv reporter, Connor Hughes. The initial reaction about Fields' performance was positive, but there was a caveat.

"He looked solid in the seven-on-seven portion of practice. There is undeniable zip on his passes. He had two highlights (one to Garrett Wilson, another to Allen Lazard) in the deeper middle portion of the field between a few defenders. Very pretty," Hughes noted.

Unfortunately for Fields, seven-on-seven sessions don't paint the full picture. Hughes also mentioned that Fields had a tough time performing during the full-team workout. Not only did the quarterback falter when pressured, but he also had an extremely poor throw that caught the eyes of many.

"The full-team period didn’t go nearly as well. That’s nothing against Fields. The Jets endured pretty consistent protection breakdowns. This Jets defensive scheme is much more active than Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s. The front five had some issues diagnosing and picking it up. The defense sacked Fields on six of his 10 drop backs. Fields completed three of the other four. Two were dump-offs to Jeremy Ruckert. One was a short pass to Wilson. The miss was a little alarming."

A lot can happen throughout an offseason and training camp, but Fields has never been looked at as an accomplished passer. If he isn't able to make the simple throws, he will experience a lot of struggles in New York. Despite Hughes noting that Fields wasn't at fault for the poor protection breakdowns, the signal-caller won't be able to perform at a high level if that trend continues for the Jets' offensive line once the regular season rolls around.

Fields has all of the talent in the world when it comes to his versatility, but quarterbacks in the NFL need to make throws on a consistent basis. It can't be looked at as comforting for New York if the former Steelers signal-caller is missing simple targets in the middle of May. Accuracy will be crucial for Fields if he wants to take the next step in his career, and it's possible that he is already showing some unfortunate flaws as he works out with his new team.

Steelers Continue To Have Trouble With Quarterback Position

There is no one doubting the fact that Pittsburgh is one of the most consistent franchises in the league. The organization hasn't finished under .500 since the 2003 campaign, but the modern NFL is a different breed. To win championships, a dominant quarterback is a necessity. With Rodgers continuing to take his time, and no long-term plan in place as a whole, the Steelers may regret not taking a more proactive approach to the position in recent years.

Do you think that the Steelers made a mistake by letting Fields walk, or is it better that he is no longer on the team? Let us know in the comments below!

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