The Pittsburgh Steelers have the entire fan base on pins and needles waiting to hear who will be the starting quarterback in 2024. Currently, the only quarterback on the team's roster is Kenny Pickett, who is entering his third year. Since the free agency period isn't open quite yet, they still have an opportunity to bring back longtime backup Mason Rudolph, which is something both parties have said they would like. While Head Coach Mike Tomlin said that he believes their next starting quarterback is already in the building, there is no way to guarantee that. The organization has also said that they aren't closing the door on any possibilities.
AP
Steelers' quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, left, and Mason Rudolph, right.
All of these variables have left fans and media scrambling to make predictions on who will start Week 1. This has led to an abundance of names being dropped, including Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill, and the most popular one - Justin Fields.
Fields, who is currently playing for the Chicago Bears, also has an uncertain future. He was their first-round draft pick in 2021 and has struggled to find sure footing in their unsteady organization. It doesn't seem to matter that the team did not set him up for success and likely impeded his development by pairing him with three different offensive coordinators in his three seasons. Now rumors are flying that the Bears will use their first pick in the draft to nab the top quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams. But Fields isn't going out quietly.
Steelers' Chance To Get Justin Fields Seems Even Slimmer Than Before
Recently, Fields appeared on The St. Brown Brothers podcast, which is hosted by Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous St. Brown. The two brothers are both wide receivers, Equanimeous is Fields' teammate in Chicago and Amon-Ra plays for the Detroit Lions.
www.mainpost.de
The St. Brown brothers before a soccer game in Germany - Equanimeous, Osiris, and Amon-Ra, two of which play in the NFL.
They asked Fields about all of the talk that has been happening about him leaving the Bears. He told them he knows it is a business, but he sees Chicago as home.
"Yeah, of course, of course, I want to stay. To be honest, with all the talk, it's hard to just boom, be in one place, but I can't see myself playing in another place. I know how the league is. I mean, if it was up to me, I would want to stay in Chicago. I love the city, the city is lit. The fans there, they're great, and the people. But it's a business and I ain't got no control over it. So whatever happens, happens. But I feel like the biggest thing with all this right now is I just want it to be over. Just let me know if I'm getting traded, let me know if I'm staying because I like watching film in the offseason," said Fields.
He went on to tell the St. Brown brothers that he believes everyone makes too much of everything and that just makes the process that much more stressful. For example, all of the talk about him unfollowing the Bears on social media. He said that people are just reading into that. It is his offseason and he is on vacation and taking a break from football, so his timeline isn't full of rumors.
"I'm tired of hearing the talk, 'We want this' and 'We want that.'"
This doesn't mean that Fields is 100% off the Black and Gold table. Like he said, the decision isn't entirely his. If he is trade bait, there will be negotiations between the teams that are interested and his agent. Fields might be expressing to the Bears organization that he wants to stay, but they will make the decision that best supports their process of rebuilding.
If he does get traded, it seems most likely that he will only go to a team where he is given the starting role, and that also is not Pittsburgh. If he came to the Steelers, he would have to compete with Pickett and maybe Rudolph.
Fields gives fans hope, but also some concerns regarding his consistency and his tendency to turn the ball over. Of course, Pickett is in a similar situation with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his 25 games. Fields has an extra year on Picket, but he has thrown 40 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.
AP
Steelers have a chance to obtain Justin Fields in the 2024 offseason.
What Fields does have that Pickett and Rudolph don't is an increased level of athleticism. Watching him scramble to pick up yardage while evading defenders is electrifying. This would present an intriguing x-factor for new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith.
What do you think about the possibility of Fields coming to Pittsburgh? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
