The Pittsburgh Steelers were an early favorite this off-season for a potential trade for Chicago Bears starting quarterback Justin Fields.
Rather than pursue a trade of Fields, the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately decided to sign Russell Wilson on a one-year deal after the veteran quarterback was released by the Denver Broncos.
The initial plan for the Steelers was for Wilson to compete with third-year quarterback Kenny Pickett. Even if Wilson beat out Pickett, the long-term plan still involved the Steelers' 2022 first-round serving as the team's starting quarterback.
What the Steelers were not anticipating as part of that plan was how Pickett would react to the signing of Wilson. Pickett reportedly grew discontent after the Steelers' signing of Wilson, leading to a trade on Friday.
Trade terms, per sources:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2024
🏈Steelers get pick No. 98 and two 2025 7th-round picks.
🏈Eagles get QB Kenny Pickett and No. 120.
It’s a similar value to Washington got for Sam Howell. https://t.co/s6vhKIrZyR
Pickett will now serve as the backup to Jalen Hurts for the Philadelphia Eagles. Ironically, the Eagles were a team that emerged as a potential suitor for Fields after the first wave of NFL Free Agency.
While the Eagles can now be ruled out as a potential suitor for Fields, the Steelers may now be back in the picture.
Steelers could use another QB https://t.co/ydn8QwYn3B
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) March 15, 2024
Not only do the Steelers now have a need for a backup quarterback, they also have a long-term need.
The argument could be made that the Steelers are a near-perfect landing spot for Fields. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is believed to be a fan of Fields while Wilson is a quarterback that Fields has often mimicked his game after.
A popular pushback to the Steelers acquiring Fields has been that their new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, passed on the Bears' quarterback during the 2021 NFL Draft. Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons at the time and despite a need at the quarterback position, the team passed on Fields. The same ideology likely would not be in play this time around considering the similar profile that Fields has to Wilson.