The Steelers buying QB Justin Fields from Chicago for only a 2025 conditional sixth-round choose remains to be probably the most shocking strikes of the offseason.
Former Bears director of participant personnel Josh Lucas, who was on the workers that drafted Fields, has revealed why he believes the value was so low for the No. 11 general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft.
“Our major concern was: ‘Is that this only a two-year beginning quarterback in school that wants extra time? … Or is that this like a scarcity of intuition?’ That was our massive query, and after three years, I’d say there’s just a little little bit of an intuition difficulty there,” Lucas said on “PFF NFL Podcast.” “It is why I feel the league simply instructed you he is considered as a backup quarterback proper now greater than a beginning quarterback.”
Fields has had his ups and downs in the course of the first three years of his younger NFL profession, however Pittsburgh’s determination to commerce a future late-round choose for him was a no brainer. The group has fully rebuilt its quarterback room this offseason.
The 25-year-old has flashed his upside, throwing for 4,804 yards and 33 touchdowns and speeding for 1,800 yards and 12 touchdowns over the previous two seasons. He should now learn to play extra persistently.
Fortunately for Fields, he’ll have a chance to do exactly that behind Tremendous Bowl-winning QB Russell Wilson, who’s executed it for 12 years.
Pittsburgh appears decided to not rush Fields again into the beginning lineup. Head coach Mike Tomlin has stated a number of occasions that Wilson has the “pole position” for the beginning job.
The Steelers look able to win now, and Wilson offers them one of the best probability to try this, however how lengthy is the query?
Wilson will flip 36 this season whereas Fields simply turned 25 in March. Neither participant is below contract in 2025, so it appears Pittsburgh will get a very good have a look at each this yr.
Whether or not Wilson performs properly or not, Pittsburgh is clearly hoping it could unlock Fields’ full potential and develop him to be its subsequent franchise quarterback.
“Oh my god, man, he oozes expertise and potential,” Tomlin told reporters. “There’s a variety of meat left on that bone and I am enthusiastic about engaged on extracting it.”
