Per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said during Tuesday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Pittsburgh Steelers are "determined" to get a deal done with either backup quarterback Justin Fields or starter Russell Wilson before the free-agent negotiating window opens this coming Monday.
Schefter added that Fields "is first up in the pecking order" for the Steelers. Franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger approves of Pittsburgh choosing Fields over Wilson this offseason.
"I'd like to see what Fields could do in another year of that offense," Roethlisberger explained during the latest edition of his "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast, as shared by Kozora. "...Let's see what he can do in a second year of an offense. There's some familiarity. He's had a new system every year. He may be more comfortable. Obviously, we're not taking into account contracts and all that kind of stuff. I'd like to see what Fields could do another year."
Many members of the NFL community blamed the Chicago Bears' instability for the fact that Fields failed to cement himself as a long-term QB1 for that club from 2021 up until Chicago traded him to the Steelers last offseason. As Roethlisberger alluded to, Fields could ultimately earn himself more money than what the Steelers want to pay if he hits the open market once the new league year begins next Wednesday.
Specifically, there reportedly "has been a lot of buzz about the prospect of the" New York Jets wanting to link Fields back up with wide receiver Garrett Wilson, Fields' former teammate at Ohio State. The New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts have also been linked with the signal-caller who turned 26 years old on Wednesday.
While head coach Mike Tomlin started a healthy Wilson over Fields from Week 7 of the 2024 season through the wild-card round of the playoffs, Wilson is 36 and likely won't be more than a bridge option for any team at this stage of his career. There is still hope that Fields' best days as an NFL QB1 are ahead of him as long as he continues to improve his mechanics while with a franchise committed to giving him at least one full campaign as a starter.
"Know he's got a good arm," Roethlisberger added about Fields. "Not taking anything away from Russ. Feels like Fields could be the pick of the future, if you wanted."
As noted by ESPN's Jenna Laine, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to retain quarterback Baker Mayfield last March via a contract that was agreed to shortly before the league's negotiation window opened. Pittsburgh still has time to keep Fields from reaching free agency, but he may want to see how different clubs value him since the deadline for teams to use their franchise tags has come and gone.
