Steelers' Mike Tomlin Excited About Justin Fields' Untapped Potential And All The "Meat Left On The Bone"

The Pittsburgh Steelers stunned their fan base this offseason by trading 2022 first-round selection Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles. The trade came shortly after Pittsburgh announced the signing of Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson. After letting Pickett go, the Steelers decided to make yet another trade with their good friends, the Chicago Bears, for a second quarterback they had considered, Justin Fields. 

These moves have created almost as many questions as answers, with everyone wanting to know who will start. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is in Orlando, Florida with all the other coaches and executives from all 32 NFL teams at their annual meetings. After the first day of meetings, Tomlin told reporters he plans to allow Wilson to start and Fields to develop behind him.

He has made it clear that he believes Wilson has a proven track record of success and has earned the right to start, at least in name. Tomlin added that his faith in Wilson does not diminish what he sees in Fields. Tomlin had high praise for him when asked what he saw in the mobile, young quarterback that wasn't apparent when he was in Chicago. 

"Oh my gosh, man, he oozes talent and potential," said Tomlin. He's worn the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback, but still, he gets an opportunity to come into a community-like situation and learn from a guy who's been doing it for over a decade. There's a lot of meat left on that bone, man. I'm just excited about working to be a part of extracting it."

Tomlin might have named Wilson the starter for now, but he added that neither he nor the team are scared of competition. Fields will have plenty of chances to showcase his talents when the opportunity arises during camp and preseason games.         

Unsurprisingly, Tomlin declined to answer any questions about how Fields was handled in Chicago. He may not shy away from competition, but avoids answering gossipy-type questions. 

The question of what transpired in Chicago is certainly a fair one. It seems likely we will have an answer to that question once Fields has some time to develop. Fields is entering his fourth season in the league, and during his three in Chicago, he had two different offensive coordinators. The Bears did not set him up for success with either coaches or offensive weapons.

Steelers Need To Prove They Aren't The Problem

The Steelers were in a similar situation with Pickett as the Bears were with Fields. Pickett was brought on board to be the face of the franchise after the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger. While some think Pickett was a reach with the 20th overall pick, others felt he had the qualities to be a strong NFL quarterback. 

Unfortunately, the Steelers failed Pickett by hiring or at least keeping Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator for longer than a season. While they had weapons for Pickett, the offensive line was weak, rendering them ineffective. Similarly, the Bears had offensive line woes and issues with coordinators that led them to failing Fields.

The Steelers boosted that line in 2023 and are already working on it for 2024, having let inconsistent center Mason Cole go. Almost every mock draft has Pittsburgh snagging a center and/or an offensive tackle early in the upcoming draft. 

The signings of Wilson and Fields feel like a positive step, an inexpensive step at that. They are more than just a Band-Aid over the situation and could represent the future of this team. It feels like Tomlin, Khan, and the Steelers need to find success from at least one of these two quarterbacks. Of course, success in the NFL is ultimately measured by winning the Super Bowl; many Steelers fans would be happy with a playoff win.  

What do you think about Fields? Does he ooze talent to you? Click to comment below!

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