Justin Fields is the popular name of the week connected to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s become somewhat diffused throughout the national landscape after Adam Schefter’s comments earlier this week that many believe it will happen. But not everyone is on board with the idea.
While many have discussed how the fit would work for both sides, Colin Cowherd sees it differently. He argues from Fields’s side that it makes no sense to go to a team with a defensive head coach and that Fields should want to go to a brand that values offensive firepower more than anything.
Reportedly, Mike Tomlin likes Justin Fields,” Cowherd said. “I do not think this is great for Justin Fields career. I think he needs an offensive head coach. The Bears and the Steelers, there’s an argument or the two most defensive driven brands in the league…The Bears and the Steelers do not provide in my opinion, what Justin Fields talented but who needs lots of refinement, they don’t provide what he needs… Fields with another defensive culture?. I’m sorry. The Steelers couldn’t get their O-line right for six years. They can’t get offensive coordinator right, there’s a lot of drama with their offense, not a lot of points.”
Appearing on ESPN 1000, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes that not only will the Bears not move off the first overall pick, but that they can get a solid haul for Fields.
“I think the Bears could get a premium pick, a second-rounder, maybe more,” Rapoport said. “They’re in a really good spot getting so many picks no matter what they do.”
So, it seems likely that the cost will end up being at least a second-round pick to get Fields from the Bears, especially with other teams in the conversation. Rapoport answered ‘definitely’ that all of the Steelers, Falcons, and Raiders were teams to watch.
Fields took a small step forward in 2023, his third year as Chicago’s starting quarterback. The 24-year-old Ohio State alum threw 370 times, completing 227 for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw nine interceptions and maintained an 86.3 passer rating and a 5.29 adjusted net yards per attempt.
Last season, he was 192 of 318 for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, an 85.2 quarterback rating and 4.63 adjusted net yards per attempt.
Fields is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Bears — or another team, if he’s traded — must decide this offseason if they want to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract. That would be a guaranteed $25 million contract for 2025. The Bears or another club could also attempt to negotiate a traditional contract extension.
