The Pittsburgh Steelers yet again find themselves in the midst of a quarterback competition heading into training camp. From Mitch Trubisky vs Kenny Pickett a few seasons ago, to newcomers Russell Wilson and Justin Fields duking it out, the Steelers are still scrambling to find the next franchise signal-caller in the wake of Ben Roethlisberger's retirement.
Following the overhaul of the quarterback room this offseason, including the trade of Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, Wilson has put himself in "pole position" to be the starter in 2024, with Fields set to back him up. Wilson's resume speaks for itself behind nine Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory. The plan for the organization appears to be to let Wilson run things for at least a season before handing things off to Fields to lead the franchise into the future.
Both quarterbacks have been hard at work this offseason, adjusting to a new system and trying to correct past problems originating from previous teams. Wilson has been doing his due diligence in remaking his image in Pittsburgh, while Fields has been working hard to overcome some of the inconsistencies that have plagued his career. Fields has struggled with patience in the pocket and accuracy, bringing him to the point of his career where he must step back and learn.
The problems of Fields are of no surprise to Chicago Bears fans, who watched Fields struggle for three seasons in the Windy City. During the Extra Point segment of the Mully & Haugh Show, Chicago radio-personalities Mike Mulligan and David Haugh discussed Fields and his role in Pittsburgh for the upcoming season.
"He's [Fields] not a minicamp player. He's not a guy who may be a starting quarterback this year. This is a respite year. This is a year of growth and learning if you will. If he plays, something has gone wrong in Pittsburgh. I don't think he will be playing by design. He will be playing because of injury or ineffectiveness."
Worst-case scenario this season for the Steelers is that they go back to the drawing board at quarterback. They gave up a conditional sixth-round pick for Fields, and agreed to a vet minimum deal for Wilson. However, if at least one of the two can distinguish themselves as a long-term starter and utilize their time in Pittsburgh as a boost for their career, then the move was well worth it.
Can Justin Fields Prove Himself With The Steelers?
Fields is in a perfect situation in Pittsburgh. There is little pressure to start right away, but he has the opportunity to stand out and revitalize his career. If he can bounce back in a system that has been put together to help its signal-callers succeed, paired with his athleticism, Fields can prosper again in the NFL.
Fields was drafted 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, with the Bears moving up nine spots to select the former Ohio State Buckeye. After three seasons in Chicago where Fields posted 6,674 yards and a 40-30 touchdown to interception ratio, he was traded to the Steelers this past offseason.
The trend of inconsistency has radiated throughout the 2021 quarterback class. Of the five quarterbacks selected in the first round, four have been traded to new teams, including Fields. Only Trevor Lawrence, who was drafted with the first overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, is still with his original team and signed to a contract extension.
With Fields entering into the final year of his rookie contract, and ideally looking to remain with Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future, it's up to him to overcome the adversity and make a name for himself. Under Arthur Smith, Fields should see a role in a system that better utilizes his skill set. Mobility at the quarterback position is a weapon that teams are beginning to take advantage of, and certainly an advantage the Steelers would love to have in 2024 and beyond.
