ESPN names Pittsburgh Steelers as potential landing spot for Justin Fields after Kenny Pickett trade

Throughout the offseason, the biggest question for the Chicago Bears has been what will happen with Justin Fields. The Bears have the No. 1 pick and are presumably planning to select Caleb Williams – and, as a result, move on from Fields after three up-and-down seasons.

Multiple teams have been connected to the former Ohio State star throughout the offseason, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were the betting favorite at one point. However, that chatter seemed to quiet down after the signing of Russell Wilson. But it’s starting to pick back up after Pittsburgh traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of a pick swap on Friday.

Suddenly, the Steelers find themselves in need of a quarterback, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently said the market for Fields could be shifting toward a backup role. With Wilson now in the Steel City on a one-year deal, the idea of bringing in Fields to sit behind him could be a possibility as Pittsburgh plans for the future.

In fact, Dan Graziano thinks it’s something Bears general manager Ryan Poles should consider.

“I think what happens is it takes away one possible destination and adds another,” Graziano said on SportsCenter about the impact the Pickett trade could have on Fields. “The Eagles – from what I understand talking to sources around the league – were one of the teams that talked to the Bears about Justin Fields, but obviously could not get to the point where they agreed on a price, so they traded for Pickett. But now, there’s an opening in Pittsburgh. And they just signed Russell Wilson, but that’s a one-year minimum salary deal. They’re not committed to him in any significant way.

“We’ve been told several times throughout this process that Mike Tomlin was a fan of Justin Fields. So I think if you’re Ryan Poles, the Bears’ GM, you have to at least make that phone call and find out if the Steelers are joining what’s so far been an extremely lukewarm – that’s putting it nicely – market for Justin Fields.”

The Steelers will pay Wilson the veteran minimum this year as part of his deal. However, the Denver Broncos are paying him more than $37 million after releasing him ahead of the new league year. That could indicate Pittsburgh doesn’t think Wilson is its long-term answer at quarterback, and the franchise is likely too low on the NFL Draft board to take one of this year’s top prospects.

Fields has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and time is ticking on the decision on his fifth-year option. That would be worth $25.6 million, according to Over The Cap, and could mean an extension in the future if the Bears – or whichever team – pick it up.

During the NFL Scouting Combine, Poles said his goal is to “do right” by Fields with whatever lies ahead. With the draft just over a month away and the questions still swirling about what the Bears will do, attention could be turning to Pittsburgh following Pickett’s departure.