The Pittsburgh Steelers have not messed around during the 2024 NFL offseason. One of the biggest storylines throughout the league was General Manager Omar Khan's willingness to completely revamp the organization's quarterback room. At the end of the day, it ended up being out with Mason Rudolph, Mitchell Trubisky, and most notably, 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett. The changes led to Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and Kyle Allen all making their separate ways to the Steel City. Wilson and Allen signed one-year deals, while Fields technically could have been under contract throughout the 2025 season while still on his rookie contract.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers President Art Rooney II (left) and General Manager Omar Khan (right) stands on the field prior to a professional football game.
The writing was likely already on the wall when Khan spoke to the media recently, but now it is seems to be official that the team will pass on Fields' massive fifth-year option of roughly $25 million. Mark Kaboly reported the news on X.
Steelers don't pick up Najee Harris or Justin Fields 5th-year options. Harris will become a free agent after the season, which means this will likely be his last year with the Steelers. He could re-sign but would be crazy not to test free agency after the year.
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 2, 2024
The Steelers were able to get Fields from the Chicago Bears for next to nothing. All it took was a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 that moves down to a fourth if the quarterback plays over 51% of snaps. Some might say that is incredible value for a talented player that has yet to reach his potential. He is going to start the 2024 season as the second-string behind Wilson, but don't count out him being strategically placed on the field in certain packages.
The next big component to this is that no one should be surprised if he lands some kind of extension prior to the season beginning. Pittsburgh has a chance to give him an extra year or two at a much better price than $25 million, given the fact that he's not even expected to be the top signal-caller on the roster. It would be an extremely low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers.
Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times
Former Bears quarterback Justin Fields (#1) scrambles out of the pocket as his team participates in a professional football game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
Fields was the 11th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. No one is comparing the two, but that's the same spot Ben Roethlisberger went back in 2004. The city of Pittsburgh is hoping the two end up having something in common, however. With Wilson turning 36 in 2024, Fields has to have his mind on being the franchise quarterback of the future in the Steel City, just as Roethlisberger was for 18 years.
The 25-year old wasn't put in a great spot to succeed in Chicago, putting together a 10-28 record in his three seasons. While his numbers through the air aren't going to impress anybody, he has 2,220 career rushing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was thrown into the fire almost immediately as a rookie, starting by Week 3.
Time will tell if Fields becomes the long-term solution at the position for the Steelers, but he was certainly worth bringing in given the draft compensation the Bears settled for. For now, he remains under contract for just 2024, but an extension is likely being discussed. He is a dynamic play-maker with the potential to blossom if he plays within the right system.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields runs away from former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton during a 2021 regular season game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA..
Steelers Likely Have Plan At Quarterback Beyond 2024 Despite Contract Statuses
With Wilson, Fields and Allen all officially playing on one-year deals, some may question what the heck the plan is moving forward for Khan and co. Overall, there is a plan behind the scenes and depending on how Wilson plays early in 2024, both he and Fields could receive some sort of extensions in order to solidify the room for more than one season. There's also the possibility of Fields taking over if Wilson struggles, and the 2021 first-rounder never looking back.
Do you think the Steelers will sign Fields to a contract extension after declining his fifth-year option? Let us know in the comments below!
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