Albert Breer Reports Unexpected Team Will Make A Run At Justin Fields

One constant we've heard lately is that if the Chicago Bears decide to trade Justin Fields in the next month or two, the market for him will be strong. Top insiders like Tom Pelissero, Adam Schefter, and Jay Glazer have indicated the Bears will get a big return for him. Maybe even a 1st round pick. That is certainly exciting. It would mean GM Ryan Poles could have three 1st round picks this year or two next year. Either way, it would give the Bears premium resources to continue building their roster. The bigger question remains unanswered: which teams might pay that price?

Albert Breer of the MMQB gave a somewhat unexpected answer to that during his latest column. One team that isn't getting enough attention in the potential Fields chase is the Pittsburgh Steelers. The organization is mired in quarterback purgatory. Kenny Pickett looks like a bust. Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky aren't starters. The team needs some competition to liven things up. Breer thinks the Steelers' strong Ohio State connections will gravitate them toward Fields.

The Pittsburgh Steelers keep talking like they’re planning to add more than nominal competition for Kenny Pickett in the offseason. “We’re not closing the door on anything,” owner Art Rooney said. Could that mean bringing in, say, Justin Fields to compete?

I wouldn’t close the door on that, especially with the powers that be in Pittsburgh having a good bond with the folks at Ohio State, where Fields starred in 2019 and ’20.

Justin Fields to Pittsburgh makes a lot of sense.

For one, it sends him to an AFC team. That means the Bears aren't likely to see him as regularly on the other sideline. Another reason is the Steelers own the 20th pick in the draft. They might be willing to part with that, given its lower value compared to teams like Atlanta (8th) and Las Vegas (13th). Pickett was the 20th pick in the 2022 draft. The organization seems to have survived that whiff just fine, making the playoffs once again this past season. Fields is a significantly better talent who can help expand the effectiveness of their ground game. He'd also have two good receivers in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.

Breer mentioning Pittsburgh isn't an accident. He's obviously hearing something. The extent of their interest remains unclear, but it must be there. The question is whether other teams might have the same idea as them. It is possible the 2024 draft class isn't making as strong of an impression as expected. That makes a player like Justin Fields, with his considerable upside, far more alluring. If Sam Darnold can fetch 2nd, 5th, and 6th round picks, the idea Fields should demand more is perfectly viable.