The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on a search for Ben Roethlisberger's successor as the franchise quarterback ever since the Pittsburgh legend retired after the 2021 season. Through two full seasons without him, the Steelers were lost as they handed the keys of the franchise over to Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, which didn't work out with either quarterback. With Pittsburgh deciding to get rid of their entire 2023 quarterbacks group, Justin Fields has been making a stronger case for the next franchise guy in 2024 more than anyone.
Fields' speed and athleticism already puts him at a huge advantage as a quarterback over Pickett and the other previous Steelers quarterbacks. While the Steelers are used to playing against mobile quarterbacks, the franchise hasn't had one itself in a very long time. Fields provides a new style of football for the Steelers that allows Arthur Smith to get creative with the offense.
For the first time in his career, Fields has started off 3-0 and looks like the best he's ever been. Stepping in for an injured Russell Wilson, Fields has three total touchdowns and only one turnover.
Despite his clean and error-free play, many around the NFL still don't believe that Fields can be the Steelers' franchise quarterback moving forward. Former New England Patriots' wide receiver Julian Edelman was on FOX Sports The Herd with Colin Cowherd and gave a puzzling response when he was asked if Fields is a franchise guy.
"I think it's a better story than reality. It's way too early to anoint and crown Justin Fields," Edelman told Cowherd. "A guy that before this had what? Seven, eight wins in his career. I don't care with what team. I think he's got one touchdown and he hasn't thrown a pick.They're finding ways on how to win ball games, but it's not because of him. I have to see him in a 'got to have it' situation throwing the football a few times for me to say he's a franchise quarterback. We haven't seen that once yet."
Cowherd followed Edelman's comments by stating that a franchise quarterback is when one has to throw the ball, and everyone knows it's a throw, and the job gets done. Oddly, Edelman and Cowherd both agree that the one outlier to that is Lamar Jackson, who is the one quarterback that probably resembles Fields more than anybody.
"It'll be one of those things with Justin Fields, it's a great story, but until it's about Week 12, Week 13, and there's some serious playoff issues and they have to lean on you, that's when you can go to say he's a franchise quarterback. Not yet."
The Steelers haven't been in a position where they've needed Fields to win a game himself because the defense has been so dominant. At some point that time will come, but for now, he's the most franchise-caliber quarterback Pittsburgh has had since left.
The more games Fields gets under his belt, the more chances he'll get to prove his abilities as a passer. His passing miscues early in his career before Pittsburgh are what hold people back from believing in him, but to this point, his passes have been accurate. He's thrown for a career high in completion percentage and passer rating in his first few starts in Pittsburgh.
Steelers In Big Trouble Down The Road If Fields Isn't The Answer
The Steelers have been chasing a playoff victory for seven years now, and if Fields isn't the franchise quarterback, it could be a really long time until another postseason victory is found. It's hard to imagine that Wilson will turn out to be the Steelers quarterback for the next few years, considering how he and the team have handled his entire calf situation. If neither Wilson or Fields pan out by the end of this season, Pittsburgh will be back to square one.
The Steelers are tirelessly pushing for a playoff win this season. It will have to be Fields or Wilson to lead them there. If Pittsburgh comes away without a postseason win yet again, it's going to be brutal for Mike Tomlin.
