The Pittsburgh Steelers made several significant moves this offseason. They signed quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum and subsequently traded away their former quarterback, Kenny Pickett. The Steelers then executed another trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire quarterback Justin Fields.
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Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson (left) and Justin Fields (right).
Since the retirement of former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers organization has struggled to find stability. They've faced criticism for a few key decisions, notably drafting running back Najee Harris in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and selecting Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Much has been said about Harris's fifth-year option being declined, and Pickett is currently viewed as a failed draft pick. While this doesn’t necessarily label Pickett as a bust, his tenure in Pittsburgh is seen as an organizational misstep. Former Steelers rival turned analyst Bart Scott discussed on Thursday's episode of Get Up how Pittsburgh's management is fortunate to have acquired Fields, suggesting their jobs might have been at risk otherwise.
"The Steelers can't really afford to fall behind in that division, which is probably the most competitive division in all of football,” Scott said.
The Steelers play in the AFC North, widely regarded as the most challenging division in the NFL. This division includes the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Steelers. While the Ravens, Browns, and Bengals have been trending positively, the Steelers have been perceived as falling behind, despite their record not necessarily reflecting that.
Regardless, the division has become highly competitive, and the Steelers risk falling further behind. Since Roethlisberger's retirement, the team has struggled to find a stable quarterback. Now, with Wilson and Fields, they aim to match the high level of quarterback play seen elsewhere in the division.
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes during their dominant Week 1 win over the Steelers.
Scott believes the Steelers management made critical errors in drafting Harris in the first round and selecting Pickett a year later. Scott argues that acquiring Fields has potentially saved their jobs, likening Fields to the Steelers' version of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Brock Purdy.
"But the reality is, somebody messed up with drafting Najee Harris. Somebody messed up by drafting Kenny Pickett," said Scott. "And the only thing that's saving their job is they found their Brock Purdy potentially in Justin Fields potentially being a future quarterback."
The truth is that Harris has been an excellent running back for the Steelers. In his three seasons with the team, he has consistently rushed for over 1,000 yards each year and has never missed a start.
However, despite his reliability and production, Harris has struggled to match the standout performance of his rookie season. Pundits argue that the Steelers had bigger needs than drafting a running back in the first round.
In the 2024 season, Harris is poised for his best season yet, benefiting from a favorable offense and a new system designed to play to his strengths. While it's easy to criticize the Pickett draft pick now, at the time, the Steelers needed a quarterback, and the draft class was weak.
They took a chance on Pickett, but he was placed in a difficult situation and struggled to succeed. Pickett wrestled with consistency, and the Steelers traded him after he expressed dissatisfaction with the signing of Wilson. The decision to draft Harris is more nuanced.
Steelers' Justin Fields May Have Brock Purdy-Like Potential
Scott believes that if Fields succeeds, it could overshadow any previous draft missteps. He sees Fields as having potential similar to Purdy, who, despite being the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, thrived in a great situation and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in the 2023 season.
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Steelers' Justin Fields (2) throwing the football during OTAs.
The 49ers lost in the Super Bowl, but Purdy's unexpected success serves as a model for what Fields could achieve in Pittsburgh. However, Fields will start the season on the bench, with Wilson set to be the starter. If Fields is going to prove he can be a starter in the NFL, he will have to do so in practice.
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