NFL Insider Provides Steelers With Exact Asking Price For Bears' Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been connected to Justin Fields since the end of the 2023 NFL season. The Chicago Bears have made it clear they will be using the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a quarterback (likely Caleb Williams), and they will be attempting to trade Fields ahead of the start of free agency. Few teams have shown any interest in Fields, however the Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons are two teams that are looking to solve their quarterback issues who have been reportedly in communication with Chicago. 

The market for Fields has not been booming, with Pittsburgh and Atlanta being the only two teams actually showing interest. NFL insider Adam Schefter, who is tapped into all 32 organizations and the league as a whole, has a good idea of what kind of compensation the Bears are seeking. On Friday, Schefter made an appearance on the sports podcast Pardon My Take, where he spoke about what Chicago is asking for in exchange for Fields. 

"I think it's pretty simple. Ryan Poles, the Bears general manager, worked in Kansas City at the time that they traded for Alex Smith. They traded two two's to the 49ers for Alex Smith. Sam Darnold, to me, might be the most relevant compensation comparison. The Jets traded him to the Panthers in '21 I believe it was and it was for a sixth that year, and a four and a two the next year. I think the Justin Fields compensation is somewhere in between what Sam Darnold got and Alex Smith got. A two and a five, two and a four, two and a three."

Ryan Poles was the Kansas City Chiefs college scouting coordinator during the time that the organization traded for Alex Smith. The Chiefs gave up the 34th overall pick in 2013 and the 56th overall pick in 2014. Obviously, the Bears won't be getting anything close to this kind of value for Fields. However, the compensation package for Darnold seems more realistic. The Bears have made it clear that they are getting rid of Fields, and that they want the deal done quickly, which has certainly hurt Fields' value. 

The Steelers have a second round pick that is slotted to be the 51st overall, and it seems like this selection would be what the compensation for Fields revolves around. Pittsburgh also has two fourth round picks, so they can certainly offer a second and fourth round pick for Fields, however that may seem like too much. Pittsburgh doesn't have a fifth round pick in 2024, but they could offer a future fifth round along with the 51st overall pick in 2024. 

Pittsburgh has plenty of options when it comes to future picks to include in a deal for Fields. In 2025, the Steelers hold two fifth round picks and two sixth round picks. They also have their full crop of picks still available for the 2026 NFL Draft. If Pittsburgh can find a way to acquire Fields while only including their second or third round round pick in 2024, and a future fifth or sixth round pick, they absolutely should make that deal. 

Steelers Still Have Faith In Kenny Pickett

Two of the most important figures in the Steelers organization, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin, have publicly stated their belief in Kenny Pickett. Pickett has struggled throughout his first two seasons in the NFL, and he has played in one of the worst offenses in the league during that time under former Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada. Due to his struggles, Khan and the front office want to provide strong competition for Pickett during training camp. That could mean bringing back Mason Rudolph. 

It could also mean signing a free agent quarterback, like Russell Wilson, once he is officially released from the Denver Broncos. It could also be something all fans want to see, a blockbuster trade for Fields.

What would you want the Steelers to give up for Fields? Let us know in the comments below!

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