Prime Potential Trade Landing Spot for Justin Fields Could Have Been Ruled Out
The Pittsburgh Steelers, once seen as frontrunners for acquiring Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, may no longer be in the picture for a trade.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are leaning towards Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback and are interested in bringing back Mason Rudolph, who showed potential towards the end of the 2023 season. Dulac's February 17 report highlights the Steelers' commitment to Pickett for the 2024 season and their disinterest in adding a quarterback aiming for a starting role, including Fields and others like Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson.
Despite previous speculation and NFL insider Adam Schefter's comments on the Pat McAfee Show about the Steelers' interest in Fields, it seems unlikely the Bears will secure a first-round pick from Pittsburgh in any potential deal. Analyst Andrew Fillipponi suggested on Audacy's «1st & Pod» that the Steelers, valuing Fields highly, are still not expected to trade their first-round pick for him.
The Atlanta Falcons have emerged as a notable contender for Fields, reinforced by former Bears GM Ryan Pace's role in Atlanta and Fields' Georgian roots. Fields, despite a mixed 2023 season, has demonstrated enough potential to attract teams needing a quarterback.
With the Steelers apparently out of the running and a reunion with Luke Getsy at the Las Vegas Raiders deemed unlikely due to their past, the Falcons now stand as a prime candidate for Fields' next team.
