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There is reportedly some belief that quarterback Justin Fields could potentially re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency this offseason.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there is a belief that the “door is open” for Fields to return to Pittsburgh, although it is likely that Fields wants to end up in a situation where he has a legitimate chance to start for a full season.
The Steelers acquired Fields in a trade with the Chicago Bears last offseason, and while he started the first six games of the 2024 campaign, he was relegated to a backup role once Russell Wilson returned from injury.
Fowler said he has spoken to many former Steelers players in New Orleans during Super Bowl week, several of whom have told him that there are people in the Steelers organization who prefer to keep Fields over Wilson since Fields is younger and more mobile.
However, it is believed that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has a “loyalty” to Wilson, which could result in Pittsburgh re-signing Wilson in free agency over Fields.
Wilson is reportedly open to returning but intends to weigh his options, with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants standing out as potential landing spots if he decides to leave the Steelers.
Fields, who will turn 26 in March, was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Bears.
He had his fair share of ups and downs in Chicago, going just 10-28 as a starter over the course of three seasons, although he did have one of the best rushing seasons by a quarterback in NFL history in 2022, rushing for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Bears traded Fields to the Steelers ahead of selecting quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Fields was given a chance to compete with Wilson for the starting job in Pittsburgh.
Wilson won the job coming out of training camp and the preseason, but with a calf injury rendering him unable to play, Fields started the first six games of the season.
Fields went 4-2 in those six starts, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception, while also rushing for 231 yards and five scores.
The Steelers won Wilson’s first four starts upon his return, but they ended the regular season on a four-game losing streak and fell 28-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
Since the Steelers have never had a losing record under Tomlin, they are never in position to take a quarterback high in the draft.
That is the case once again this year, as they own the No. 21 overall pick, which will almost certainly preclude them from landing Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Because of that, the Steelers will likely have to find their quarterback solution in free agency by re-signing Fields or Wilson or signing an outside option such as Sam Darnold, who is in line to be the top free-agent quarterback.
Perhaps most importantly, the Steelers need to beef up their receiving corps for whoever the starting quarterback is, as no wideout aside from George Pickens had more than 548 yards for Pittsburgh in 2024.
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