NFL
Who will be the starting QB for the Steelers in 2024, Russell Wilson or Justin Fields?
The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off another stunning trade in landing Justin Fields, just days after getting their hands on Russell Wilson.
Coming into March, the Pittsburgh Steelers had Kenny Pickett at quarterback. Now, just past the Ides, Picket is out and they have not one, but two new guys. A nine-time Pro Bowler in Russell Wilson and a former first round draft pick in Justin Fields.
The Steelers have completely revamped their quarterback room and if reports are true, they have a long term plan for it.
Before signing, Fields was reportedly told that, for now at least, Russell Wilson is the starter. There will be no position battle between the two.
The Steelers are looking to squeeze the last drop of football left out of the 36-year-old Wilson while developing Fields for the future. They feel that he has tons of potential as yet untapped.
There are immediate returns for Pittsburgh in that situation as well. The deal that the Steelers struck with the Bears for Fields states that Chicago gets Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick. If Fields plays 51% of snaps, however, they get the fourth-round pick instead.
On Twitter, Fields reacted to the news of the trade by posting:
“Can’t say thank you enough to the city of Chicago for taking me in and embracing me. Thank you to the entire Bears organization and ownership for allowing me the opportunity to be part of such a historic franchise. But most of all thank you to my all my brothers that I played with. You all were the reason I attacked each day the way I did. I can’t thank you all enough for what y’all have meant to me over the last 3 years through the ups and downs. I wish each one of you nothing but success. Ready for this next chapter!”
Russell Wilson responded with a tweet reading, “Let’s get it @justnfields! QB room bout to be sizzling!”
The Steelers have shaken off their normal conservative mantle and have been aggressive in free agency, picking up a Super Bowl winning quarterback for the league minimum, in what can only be described as the deal of the century, and now they grabbed a former first round pick in Fields and pivoted hard at quarterback.
Kenny Pickett is now with the Eagles, Mason Rudolph signed with the Titans and Mitch Trubisky is now Josh Allen’s backup in Buffalo.
The long term plan is for Fields to learn under Wilson and become the quarterback of the future for Pittsburgh, under the watchful eye of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.