Justin Fields is finally being traded. After months of speculation, the former Chicago Bears quarterback was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick and will not play, as confirmed by CBS Sports Senior NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. It was revealed that he would be awarded a fourth-round pick based on time.
Fields’ status in Chicago has been in doubt since midway through the 2023 season, when rumors began circulating about the Bears’ long-term plans for him. In the end, the Bears ultimately decided to give Fields a new opportunity with a new team while starting over as quarterback. That team is the Steelers, who have reportedly been interested in Fields for some time.
In Pittsburgh, Fields will be paired with Russell Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler who was signed this week just before the Steelers traded former starter Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Fields trade almost guarantees the Bears will select former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. The Bears’ next starting quarterback will have a pretty decent supporting cast around him, including wideouts Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, running back D’Andre Swift, and tight end Gerald Everett.
From a financial standpoint, the Steelers are in an ideal situation at the quarterback position. Fields is in the final year of his rookie contract and has a cap hit of just $3.2 million. The Steelers have until May 2 to pick up his and running back Najee Harris’ fifth-year options.
The Steelers signed Wilson for just $1.21 million, as the Broncos are paying Wilson $39 million to keep him on the roster in 2024. Even with Fields, the Steelers still have the financial flexibility to add to their roster in free agency. Expect Pittsburgh to add another wideout to the equation via free agency soon.
Fields went 10-28 as the Bears’ starting QB. Although he didn’t perform well, Fields showed glimpses of his potential, forcing Chicago to select him with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. His completion percentage increased in each of his three seasons with the Bears. In 2022, Fields had the second-highest rushing total by a quarterback in NFL history. Last season, he threw nine picks, the lowest of his career, while setting career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes.
During his college days, Fields had a tremendous career at Ohio State University. Fields was a two-year starter at Columbus, where he led the Buckeyes to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. His most iconic moment with the Buckeyes was a six-touchdown performance in Ohio State’s 49-28 victory over Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl.
Fields will look to further realize his potential in Pittsburgh, which has completely shuffled its quarterback room over the past month.
