The Steelers have an important offseason ahead after not winning a playoff game for the seventh year in a row.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick believes Pittsburgh should make a splash move for a player who would be a perfect fit.
“I like [Justin Fields] a lot. Think of the effect that Arthur Smith had on Ryan Tannehill,” Riddick said on “Get Up.” “The play-action game with Justin under center on first and second down with the dynamic duo that they have at the running back position with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, it is perfect. It’s absolutely perfect.”
Fields is still under contract with the Bears through the 2024 season, so the Steelers would have to trade for the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft if they wanted to add him to their roster.
However, Chicago is likely to move on from him since it owns the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and it will reportedly take a “historic haul” to trade for it with USC QB Caleb Williams the favorite to hear his name called first.
Riddick isn’t the first person to suggest Pittsburgh should trade for Fields as the Steelers are now the odds favorite to land him. But there’s a reason he’s joining in on the conversation and it’s because it could be a great pairing.
Fields has thrown for 4,804 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns from 2022-23. And while his 10-28 record as a starter is unimpressive, it will still prove costly to get him.
Many believe it would take at least a second-round pick for Pittsburgh to acquire him, which is likely more than it’d want to give up. But Fields would bring a much higher upside to the position than QB Kenny Pickett, who has thrown for 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 games.
Trading for Fields would almost end Pickett’s chances of being the Steelers’ franchise quarterback. But even Riddick, who has always been a big fan of Pickett, thinks it would be the right move.
“Just think of the possibilities with a guy who is infinitely more talented naturally than Ryan Tannehill,” Riddick added. “I don’t want to ever put anybody in front of my boy Kenny Pickett because Kenny’s my guy. He’s my guy. But Justin Fields is one of those dudes where I’d be like, ‘Might have to put him in front of you Kenny.'”
