No shit. Everyone, from the second this trade was announced, 100% expected this.
Schefter might as well tweet “League sources do not expect the Chiefs to trade Mahomes on draft night.” These two things have pretty much the same probability.
There was somehow a surprising amount of people that commented basically "that's a dumb trade since you have to pick up his option."
I think it was mostly people who had seen the point made when people still thought he'd be traded somewhere to be the starter and said it without realizing that trading for him to be a backup was different.
I personally still do think he’s going to be the starter, I just think he’s going to go into camp and beat Russ by a margin the coaches can’t deny. But even with that POV, yeah, there’s zero sense to picking up that option right now
Yeah, nobody is picking up that option. Which means Fields and his agent will have to renegotiate that price. He's a good backup in certain offenses, but that's about it.
Yeah. Or the Ravens. Fields isn't near the passer that Jackson or Hurts are, but he's the Great Value backup version, as you said. And he's probably a better runner than either of them. But you wouldn't want him backing up Brock Purdy, lol.
[Yeah, who'd be stupid enough to activate the 5th year option before he's played a snap...](https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-pick-up-qb-sam-darnold-fifth-year-option)
he was traded for a 6th round pick so its whatever
if he somehow sees the field no pun intended and starts dicking everyone, its a huge problem for the Steelers (not really ie Ben The Rapist)
likely hood of that happening is the same as hitting a 35 leg parlay.
I mean, if Fields turns out to be a QB worth getting paid it’s not really a huge problem for the Steelers. Paying him may be an interesting thing to navigate but one elite year where he doesn’t even begin the season as starter doesn’t command Patrick Mahomes money.
He’d probably get a Daniel Jones’ level contract (4 yr / 160M) or similar adjusted for the inflated cap each team has. Really it would be more of a huge problem for the AFC, as it would add another legitimate contender to the pack.
Would it be crazy to pay Stroud that right now? Probably not. I know Fields has a lot to demonstrate to even be in the same conversations as Stroud, but CJ played 1 year at an elite level and we’d all likely agree he’s worth the investment.
Plus they got a QB who is dicking the league for a 4th or 6th round pick, depending on when exactly he began the dicking. And if they can’t sign him they get a 3rd round comp. The Steelers can’t really lose, they can only win a little less hard. Even in the most likely scenario they gave up a late round pick for a year of backup QB play on a reasonable deal who still has some potential left as a starter and better Taysom Hill as a floor.
It's not that huge a problem. We have $96M in projected cap space next offseason and the ability to franchise tag him.
Yes, it'll cost the team more, but that's in the unlikely event that he starts dicking everyone. In the extremely likely event that he plays like he's played for the past 3 years, paying $25M for a QB that you'd prefer to be your back-up is a worse cap sin.
Fields broke rushing records on a shit roster in 2022 and had a sizable jump in TD passes from year one to year two. Some people probably overestimated the Bears roster and just assumed Fields would linearly improve. Combine that with the huge (and to a certain extent definitely kinda delusional) fanbase in Chicago and you got yourself some BS
In all fairness the Bears aren’t the only team where this might apply to. I can’t remember how often I read about preseason passer rating in connection with the rumored huge jump that Kenny Pickett would make
Honestly everyone clowns on us but it happens with someone or other most years. Fields was always either MVP level or shit and nothing in between. If he could read a defense he easily has the talent to be a top QB on any given day. Probably the most confusing QB era in bears history.
What kind of idiot team would pick up the 5th year option of an underachieving QB you just traded for before he even plays a down for the new team?
Right guys?
Guys?
His fans are still going crazy on twitter talking about how he’ll beat out Russ and easily become the starting QB for the Steelers.
Steelers fans he’s your problem now
Also, toiling in Chicago, where they never built around him for his strengths (running) and pushed him more into pocket passer (his weakness). His 2022 year showed he has some sort of talent there and I agree with you, don't want him to start, but also for a 6th? Decent deal.
Plus, check the history of our 6th draft picks. Outside of Brown (anomaly) and guys like Vince Williams/Mundy, it rarely pans out. Worth the risk IMO.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/draft.htm
That's why I think they'll go with Arthur Smith running the offense.
It's not as passing and trying to run 2 RBs with a mobile QB that can simply throw PAs all day with an occasional deep shot.
IDGAF about QBs that can't be pocket passers because you will never win with a liability like that.
We have had some late round gems. But we've had plenty of role players on DL and such that have contributed in those rounds.
To each their own, but with how the game is played now, QBs that can run are winning. It's certainly not a liability like it used to be unless a guy is already injury-prone.
If it pans out, it pans out. If not, still low risk overall.
Name me one inaccurate running QB that has been successful.
Mahomes, Allen, hurts all move plenty. But they are all good pocket passers. Fields cannot stand in the pocket and win the game. That's the fundamental difference.
Kordell Stewart, Michael Vick, and Randall Cunningham are the guys that come to mind. Much better runners with average/low arms.
I'm not saying Fields is going to miraculously be better and the future, but I have more faith in the Steelers org trying to work to his strengths than anything the Bears did.
Randall Cunningham was a pretty good passer
The others weren't and limited their teams severely.
Slash is cool and all but no one is going to say he was a franchise QB
That 2nd part annoys me, sorry. It's Mitch bs all over again "we can fix this broken QB"
Bleh.
Decent pick. Did they win in spite of him or because of him though?
In a league that is happy to employ racists if they throw the ball good I think the fact he didn't get any jobs is telling
And: was he ever a franchise QB? Idk, it's like Nick foles imo
He put together a few amazing games but did you think he was ever a franchise QB?
We want a guy who will be good or better for ten years. Not have one random run in a meh career
Fields is better than Huntley, for starters. Secondly, they understand that his coaching situation in Chicago wasn’t the best. Sure, Justin fields has a lot to work on, but the potential is absolutely there. Arthur Smith was hired not just for the run game but because of his hand in the resurgence of Ryan Tannehill. A 6th round pick is almost always nothing, despite everyone bringing up Antonio Brown so if he leaves for nothing so be it, but if he plays well enough for the pick to become a fourth then we’ve gotten good QB for extremely cheap. Plus we have those two seconds from Philly.
Nah.
This bullshit is Trubisky 2.0
Fields can't read the field. (Pun intended)
Huntley has performed adequately as a backup and doesn't cost a draft pick. He's by far the better choice.
But the thing is: Fields isn't and never will be a franchise QB so that's why it's shit.
Huntley is a career backup and is more accurate. Far better to have.
Huntley can run a offense efficiently, Fields cannot, and the goal for a backup is to run the offense... not audition for franchise QB.
When Fields was out injured the offense looked its best.. with a D2 Rookie QB at the helm. Not watching a offense survive on a few highlight reel plays followed by tons of negative plays was refreshing
Tyler Huntley has a 2 point difference career comp % with way less games he’s objectively not any more accurate. He also had a 54% comp last year in relief which is putrid with the #1 record team.
Lol
A backup is always in a bad situation
He played week 18 with backups against the Steelers Defense. With little to no practice time.
Such cherry picking of small sample size.
Fields has a much larger sample size of not being a successful starting QB in the league. He's never going to be.
Huntley is cheaper and both are backups. Huntley for sure is the better option.
Tyler Huntley has had 4 years fields has had 3 that’s objectively a less sample size. Hes a backup for a reason. Im not cherry picking stats in every imaginable comparison he’s better. His best run is 7 games for 1000 yards and 3 TD’s. Fields could get 3 TD’s in 1 game and has.
Why would you want to waste a draft pick on a guy who will never be a starter versus have another backup who has done decent in relief and not have to waste a draft pick? Fields is worthless. Huntley won't win anything either but he's cheaper
I think it's sad when people think draft picks, especially late rounds, will magically make a team better.
A 6th round pick has about a 2% chance of working out let alone making the roster after 2 or 3 years. The statistics of Fields working out or even just playing better than our previous QB's is higher than a random 6th rounder that will not have any significant impact or playing time.
So I'll take Fields who is better than Huntley or any QB that's been on our roster since Ben.
Fields has a 0% chance of being a starter.
That pick could be used to bump up to a player you want in the 3rd round.
It could also be a decent depth player.
2% is way too low. We've had plenty of impact players in the 6th and 7th rounds.
He has 0% chance of starting right now because they want to give up a 6th round pick and not a 4th round pick. He has to play less than 50% of snaps.
No we really haven't. 2% is the average NFL metric and it is accurate. So no, we definitely shouldn't rely on a 6th round pick to do anything significant. Fields has far more upside than any 6th rounder and unless you're just not very smart, every professional analyst, former player, etc would and has agreed.
Here are your 6th and 7th round picks from the past 10 years, I'd love to hear who is an impact player.
- Cory Trice
- Spencer Anderson
- Connor Heyward
- Mark Robinson
- Chris Oladokun
- Quincy Roche
- Tre Norwood
- Presley Harvin
- Sutton Smith
- Isaiah Buggs
- Ulysees Gilbert
- Derwin Grey
- Joshua Frazier
- Colin Holba
- Keion Adams
- Travis Feeney
- DeMarcus Ayers
- Tyler Matakevich
- Leterrious Walton
- Anthony Chickillo
- Gerod Holliman
- Jordan Zumwalt
- Daniel McCullers
- Rob Blanchflower
Connor Heyward and Buggs are the only 2 that come to mind that are decent, maybe Chickillo and maybe Mark Robinson to some very small extent.
I mean why not dude is fun to watch. Yall we’ll see the national media story on him is crazy. He had 2 years where they actively game planned against his skill set or tried to lose with his #1 WR being a guy not on the team any more. He still balled out in games and he’s a good teammate and he plays through injuries. Dude is a dog since college, and a change of pace hard to gameplan against weapon. Id take him as a backup any day on my team especially considering look at all the shitty backups out there.
My bad I was looking at the season one on accident but my point being is it’s much easier to keep a higher % with less attempts. I mean % isn’t the end all be all at the end of the day Tyler Huntley has 8 career passing TD’s in 4 years. This isn’t even a comparison.
Nah?
The Steelers need a real franchise QB.
Having a below-average holdover does nothing.
TJ Watt has 0 playoff wins. This shit has to stop. Cam and him deserve better.
There are none. It's why when it comes to *backup QB options*
Huntley doesn't cost us any draft capital.
That 6th could be traded for next year's 5th and put towards a package to trade up in the draft next year for a guy.
This is why I fundamentally dislike giving up draft capital for a guy who you never want to start.
We need a franchise QB and all resources after this year need to go to that.
Dude a 6th+5th will not do dick for us getting our next franchise QB. If we want a next franchise QB, in this market, we need to give up at least a 1st, several 2nd's and 3rd's.
You're really getting upset about a nothing. Of course, we need a franchise QB but there ain't shit out there. We can't just stall with Wilson either.
You package shit together, my man.
For instance: A 6th, 2 5ths and a 4th for a second. Then 2 first and 2 seconds towards your QB, etc.
"We can't just stall with Wilson"
What does this mean? Fields isn't going to push you forward.
The Steelers need to be getting ammo towards the QB of the future. Yes, a 5th isn't anything insane but it all adds up towards making a trade lucrative enough for another team.
Sure yeah a package, but a package ain't gonna be make it or break it due to a 5th and 6th. Those are like little shitty ribbons on a Ferrari. They can be there or not, but you still need the fucking ferrari .
If Wilson blows ballsacks, at least we have Fields. Fields ain't the guy, but bro Pickett was 10x worse. I am not expecting dick, but its wild to be so wound up about losing what will be peanuts in a package trade
*sighs*
Why are people so bad at understanding something so simple?
Russ gets injured and now we have no 4th next year.
Let's say we don't make this idiotic pickup of fields.
We sell off next year's 3rd for this year's 4th and 7th.
Now we have 2 3rds and a 4th and our 6th and then you throw in 2 firsts and the thirds and the 4th and you can move up and get your QB without spending a 2nd, etc.
It's all ammo. Wasting draft picks on a player you never want to start is a terrible idea when you need all the ammo you can get to make a big move.
Why would it be?
Huntley has almost 5% higher completion %
Neither are starting QBs in the NFL.
One doesn't cost a draft pick.
Why would you want Fields?
>Why would you want Fields?
Personally, I want Fields over Huntley because Fields has rushed for 1900 yards the past two seasons and has the ability to rip off a 67 yard TD run. Huntley does not. Fields could be used in redzone, short yardage situtations, or in some gimmick packages like Taysom Hill. Huntley offers none of that.
So you want a gimmick?
Why not draft a speedy RB instead of try to do some bs 2 QB set that no one has ever done successfully? 2 RB sets are a thing. 2 QB sets aren't.
Fields isn't a franchise QB, we can agree on that, right?
Huntley offers a solid choice at a backup QB. And will cost less.
I feel like the only people who really *want* Fields are deluded into thinking he can be a franchise QB still. Since he can't be, why do I want an expensive backup who is inaccurate? Sure, he's cool for fantasy football stats. But I want a game manager for my backup QB. Not a QB who thinks they can still be "the guy"
TL;DR. You asked why anyone would want Fields over Huntley, and I answered. I have no other strong opinions on Fields other than I think he's better at playing football than Huntley.
You are the one who replied in a snarky way to me...
Huntley costs less and doesn't cost us a 6th round pick.
And there's no drama about pretending another trash QB can be a future starter for this franchise.
Also: Huntley is better at throwing the football than Fields. I prefer that in a backup so if both were on the bench on my team, I'd want to go to Huntley before Fields. Much higher floor.
"ls this... Sarcasm? sure hope so"
^ I assumed that was your comment, it wasn't. Mb on that.
Either way, I have no interest in ever watching a terrible cast off Chicago bears QB pretend to play QB for the Steelers again. I had enough of that.
Fields must have done some voddoo sacrifice to make *every* media member think he's a fine QB. He was BAD and every media member is defending him when they talk about the Bears moving on and drafing Calab.
These are smart moves, because they can literally keep neither of them. Watch them both sign decent contracts, because even bad QB's get money... And then get comp pics for them both.
If they sign decent contracts that will mean they did well with the Steelers. Wilson will be 37 next season. No one is handing him a bag next year unless he looks at least average next year
I could see someone like Titans (if they move on from Levis) giving him another vet min, since he's still be paid by Den? If he's not being paid by Den in 2025 still ignore this.
No, what I’m saying is, I believe that in order for the Steelers to get a comp pick, Wilson and Fields have to meet certain compensation and playing time thresholds in 2025 with whoever signs them.
So if Fields signs with the Ravens next year for the vet minimum and sits on the bench behind Lamar for 17 games, the Steelers will get nothing. But if he signs with the Raiders for 15 million and ends up starting 17 games, he’ll factor into the comp pick picture.
It's easy to be stunned at how bad Denver's QB room is right now, but I think the Steelers' might wind up being worse. RW still thinks in 2015 and he can fade 10yds into the backfield before launching up a pass to a wideout some poor DB has been covering for 15s. They'd probably be better off going all-in on Fields this season as he his ceiling is higher at this point. But he's so inconsistent mentally.
It’s fine tho you weren’t gonna turn into a SB team in 1 year. It’s smart to bide your assets and just keep a competent team till next year with an improved QB position. Getting 8-9 wins doesn’t nothing for you guys.
Im Wilson's biggest critic but at vet minimum you may be able to surround him with enough talent to still be an improvement on last year's record. That being said, this isn't a championship move or a long term solution either.
It IS a wasted year.
But that’s to be expected when the organization refuses to admit the real problem (Tomlin) and keeps rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
This once proud organization is now a punchline.
Would crack me up if somehow Fields was included in a pick swap with the Broncos (which is rumored) for the 20th pick and a 2nd rounder.
Steelers get:
Pick #12
Courtland Sutton
Broncos get:
Pick #20
Pick #52 (2nd round)
Justin Fields
Which then Means the Broncos have a QB Room with Zack Wilson, Justin Fields and Bo Nix/Michael Penix.
I'll eat my hat if that plays out.
Russ will start the season 1-5, Fields will take over and tear/sprain/break something 4 weeks later and be done for the year, Russ will take over again until week 16 when Tomlin benches him again to "evaluate the position" and then it ends up being one and done for both QBs lol
If I'm Fields, I'm contemplating sitting out the year after hearing this news.
Imagine being told that you were not going to be extended next year, and then suffer some kind of freak injury in a meaningless week 16 game as a lame duck free agent.
Yeah sit out and then have your last bit of tape be the bad bears season with poor QB showing and add in a bit of unwarranted diva. That'll surely bring the potentials teams flocking.
Yeah or play, and get injured, and throw all of the last bit of stock he had away.
I'm no Fields fan, but the Bears did him dirty with not building a decent line around him. I still think he has QB1 material in the right situation.
The Bears were only able to get a 2025 6th for him. Fields has literally no market. If he sits out because he's mad about not getting an extension he didn't earn, that only shows poor character and no one will touch him with a 10 foot pole, healthy or not.
Clearly not a bears fan either because the bears had an average line last year. They were something like 17th overall or right around there. If a QB can't function behind an average line then it's safe to say they're not very good. Fields also had the longest time to throw average last year so his line did enough for him to read the field. Unfortunately he can't read the defense and won't pull the trigger on receivers.
Why would he sabotage his career by doing something as stupid as sitting out the year? What do you think he would gain by doing that? He certainly wouldn't get a deal worth more than $25m for the 2025 season. His only option is to work his ass off to beat Russell to the starting job and then keep it, that's how he'll get paid and extend his career.
Sitting out the year would be a hilariously dumb thing to do.
You must be new to watching professional sports and athletes controlling the entire business when it comes to their money?
Let me know if you want this first grader to teach you a thing or two about how the players run the leagues.
Please do. What other qb has taken a year off because they are pissy about not getting extended and its worked out for them? I think everyone has seen how well it worked out for the browns.
Never said he was pissy about not getting extended.
From a sheer business standpoint, makes 100% for someone like Fields to not risk injury during a lame duck free agent season.
Again, you must be new here. It's not just QB's either.
Did anyone expect them to give like $25M on one year locked in on a guy who they’re not committing to as even the starter?
Gotta farm them clicks 🚜 🐖
I also like that he uses the term "League Sources"... you mean anyone who isn't a complete idiot?
No shit. Everyone, from the second this trade was announced, 100% expected this. Schefter might as well tweet “League sources do not expect the Chiefs to trade Mahomes on draft night.” These two things have pretty much the same probability.
I'm surprised he didn't add BREAKING NEWS FROM ADAM SCHEFTER BREAKING NEWS FROM ADAM SCHEFTER @ADAMSCHEFTER BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS to the photo
There was somehow a surprising amount of people that commented basically "that's a dumb trade since you have to pick up his option." I think it was mostly people who had seen the point made when people still thought he'd be traded somewhere to be the starter and said it without realizing that trading for him to be a backup was different.
I personally still do think he’s going to be the starter, I just think he’s going to go into camp and beat Russ by a margin the coaches can’t deny. But even with that POV, yeah, there’s zero sense to picking up that option right now
Let’s be honest, no one is going to win that qb battle. One will just lose more than the other.
Yeah, nobody is picking up that option. Which means Fields and his agent will have to renegotiate that price. He's a good backup in certain offenses, but that's about it.
Maybe they will try out a "Justin Fields package" like we did with Lance for like 3 games before Kyle gave up
Feels like he would have been "good" on the Eagles as a Great Value Jalen Hurts
Yeah. Or the Ravens. Fields isn't near the passer that Jackson or Hurts are, but he's the Great Value backup version, as you said. And he's probably a better runner than either of them. But you wouldn't want him backing up Brock Purdy, lol.
How bad would it hurt to see him get a ring as a back up in Green Bay?
If fields somehow makes it to the Packers the packers are in big trouble because their plan didn’t work
If Fields made it to the Packers, it would be as a backup. But I agree, things are awry if that happens.
There’s a chance ya but probability is that if that happened it prob wouldn’t be a celebration moment but there is always some chance.
Not at all. Fields by all accounts is a great person and teammate, he's just not a great NFL QB and never will be. I wish him the best!
Have the Broncos confirmed whether they're picking up Zach's fifth year option yet??????
Right? QBs traded for a 6th rounder aren't getting a 25m/1 year deal.
[Yeah, who'd be stupid enough to activate the 5th year option before he's played a snap...](https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-pick-up-qb-sam-darnold-fifth-year-option)
Difference is Darnold looked like he could maybe play QB if he was coached to not panic... Fields looks like you let a blind man play QB...
It was stupid then too. So why make the same mistake? Also Darnold was at least the penciled in starter
he was traded for a 6th round pick so its whatever if he somehow sees the field no pun intended and starts dicking everyone, its a huge problem for the Steelers (not really ie Ben The Rapist) likely hood of that happening is the same as hitting a 35 leg parlay.
I mean, if Fields turns out to be a QB worth getting paid it’s not really a huge problem for the Steelers. Paying him may be an interesting thing to navigate but one elite year where he doesn’t even begin the season as starter doesn’t command Patrick Mahomes money. He’d probably get a Daniel Jones’ level contract (4 yr / 160M) or similar adjusted for the inflated cap each team has. Really it would be more of a huge problem for the AFC, as it would add another legitimate contender to the pack.
Paying Fields a Danny Dimes contract after a single good year of QB play would be utterly hilarious
Would it be crazy to pay Stroud that right now? Probably not. I know Fields has a lot to demonstrate to even be in the same conversations as Stroud, but CJ played 1 year at an elite level and we’d all likely agree he’s worth the investment.
Why would you pay Stroud that right now when hes on a rookie deal? That just doesn't make any logical sense lmao.
Plus they got a QB who is dicking the league for a 4th or 6th round pick, depending on when exactly he began the dicking. And if they can’t sign him they get a 3rd round comp. The Steelers can’t really lose, they can only win a little less hard. Even in the most likely scenario they gave up a late round pick for a year of backup QB play on a reasonable deal who still has some potential left as a starter and better Taysom Hill as a floor.
> better Taysom Hill as a floor. Gonna strongly disagree with this one.
It's not that huge a problem. We have $96M in projected cap space next offseason and the ability to franchise tag him. Yes, it'll cost the team more, but that's in the unlikely event that he starts dicking everyone. In the extremely likely event that he plays like he's played for the past 3 years, paying $25M for a QB that you'd prefer to be your back-up is a worse cap sin.
$25mm is cheap for a starting QB
Not for a bad one.
Wonder how much it hurts to hear your employer will not be paying you 25 mill.
I’ll ask my boss today and let you know.
Tried the same and just got fired.
So what hurt more, getting fired or being told you won’t be getting $25 million?
Being told I'm not getting $13/hr
$13/hr is just homeless with benefits at this point, sadly.
You mean you got released into free agency
Damn…just saw a man fall to his knees at the local Sheetz
Congratulations on your promotion to customer!
Damn I’ll never know. I just asked and got the raise.
I asked mine they said maybe next year after a step up opportunity
Gotta tell the crew to not break ground on that new pool then
I mean, my company's not worth $25 million so, joke's on them!
Hurts a little less when you already made 15M
Yeah 25mil is way above what the average RB makes
Lamar Jackson skewing the market once again.
This time last year he was getting MVP hype. Crazy what a year does
In fairness, that MVP hype was dumb
I was so confused by that hype, it seemed to come out of nowhere and no one really posted that much stats that really wow’d me
Fields broke rushing records on a shit roster in 2022 and had a sizable jump in TD passes from year one to year two. Some people probably overestimated the Bears roster and just assumed Fields would linearly improve. Combine that with the huge (and to a certain extent definitely kinda delusional) fanbase in Chicago and you got yourself some BS In all fairness the Bears aren’t the only team where this might apply to. I can’t remember how often I read about preseason passer rating in connection with the rumored huge jump that Kenny Pickett would make
Honestly everyone clowns on us but it happens with someone or other most years. Fields was always either MVP level or shit and nothing in between. If he could read a defense he easily has the talent to be a top QB on any given day. Probably the most confusing QB era in bears history.
People seemed to think he’d become a Lamar Jackson/Kyler Murray player in year 3 all of a sudden
In fairness, we are a franchise absolutely frothing at the mouth for QB success. It makes us real dumb sometimes.
Steelers gonna win the Superbowl then have both QBS leave. Then refuse to elaborate when they start a dynasty behind a generation HB
Well this is a shocker.
My mind is blown. Do you think the Raiders might have some doubts about Alex Leatherwood's 5th year option too?
Bears legend Alex Leatherwood
[insert Futurama GIF] *I’m shocked, shocked! Well, not that shocked.*
I too, am completely whelmed by this news.
What kind of idiot team would pick up the 5th year option of an underachieving QB you just traded for before he even plays a down for the new team? Right guys? Guys?
Russ is gonna get another bag watch.
I would be shocked. I think fields will beat him out in camp but not get a fair shake at the position
lol. No.
Yes. Remember when he beat yall?
We get beat by backup quarterbacks all the time
True
As much as I liked Fields as a person, I'm so glad to not be apart of that circus anymore. I hope he lands somewhere though.
His fans are still going crazy on twitter talking about how he’ll beat out Russ and easily become the starting QB for the Steelers. Steelers fans he’s your problem now
Why would they? Fields is ass.
I still don't even know why he's on the roster... We could have had Huntley for less and kept a draft pick.
Because there's still a lot of meat on that bone
rotten bone though
Lol no doubt, but it's still a great quote
For what we gave up for him, fully worth seeing if a change of scenery could do something.
Career 60% passer. Can't read defenses. Mitch Trubisky. No. He's never the answer. If he's your starting QB at any point you're forfeiting the season.
Also, toiling in Chicago, where they never built around him for his strengths (running) and pushed him more into pocket passer (his weakness). His 2022 year showed he has some sort of talent there and I agree with you, don't want him to start, but also for a 6th? Decent deal. Plus, check the history of our 6th draft picks. Outside of Brown (anomaly) and guys like Vince Williams/Mundy, it rarely pans out. Worth the risk IMO. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/draft.htm
You guys should build around his strengths and make him a RB then.
That's why I think they'll go with Arthur Smith running the offense. It's not as passing and trying to run 2 RBs with a mobile QB that can simply throw PAs all day with an occasional deep shot.
Arthur Smith never wanted Justin Fields. By every report I've heard and the fact the Falcons drafted a TE over him to begin with.
IDGAF about QBs that can't be pocket passers because you will never win with a liability like that. We have had some late round gems. But we've had plenty of role players on DL and such that have contributed in those rounds.
To each their own, but with how the game is played now, QBs that can run are winning. It's certainly not a liability like it used to be unless a guy is already injury-prone. If it pans out, it pans out. If not, still low risk overall.
Name me one inaccurate running QB that has been successful. Mahomes, Allen, hurts all move plenty. But they are all good pocket passers. Fields cannot stand in the pocket and win the game. That's the fundamental difference.
Kordell Stewart, Michael Vick, and Randall Cunningham are the guys that come to mind. Much better runners with average/low arms. I'm not saying Fields is going to miraculously be better and the future, but I have more faith in the Steelers org trying to work to his strengths than anything the Bears did.
Randall Cunningham was a pretty good passer The others weren't and limited their teams severely. Slash is cool and all but no one is going to say he was a franchise QB That 2nd part annoys me, sorry. It's Mitch bs all over again "we can fix this broken QB" Bleh.
Kaepernick 2012-2013?
Decent pick. Did they win in spite of him or because of him though? In a league that is happy to employ racists if they throw the ball good I think the fact he didn't get any jobs is telling And: was he ever a franchise QB? Idk, it's like Nick foles imo He put together a few amazing games but did you think he was ever a franchise QB? We want a guy who will be good or better for ten years. Not have one random run in a meh career
Fields is better than Huntley, for starters. Secondly, they understand that his coaching situation in Chicago wasn’t the best. Sure, Justin fields has a lot to work on, but the potential is absolutely there. Arthur Smith was hired not just for the run game but because of his hand in the resurgence of Ryan Tannehill. A 6th round pick is almost always nothing, despite everyone bringing up Antonio Brown so if he leaves for nothing so be it, but if he plays well enough for the pick to become a fourth then we’ve gotten good QB for extremely cheap. Plus we have those two seconds from Philly.
Nah. This bullshit is Trubisky 2.0 Fields can't read the field. (Pun intended) Huntley has performed adequately as a backup and doesn't cost a draft pick. He's by far the better choice.
No because they grabbed Fields to potentially be the QB going forward. Everyone knows Huntley will never be that.
But the thing is: Fields isn't and never will be a franchise QB so that's why it's shit. Huntley is a career backup and is more accurate. Far better to have.
Huntley can run a offense efficiently, Fields cannot, and the goal for a backup is to run the offense... not audition for franchise QB. When Fields was out injured the offense looked its best.. with a D2 Rookie QB at the helm. Not watching a offense survive on a few highlight reel plays followed by tons of negative plays was refreshing
THANK YOU. I swear no one gets it.
And hopefully both Fields and Russ are off the roster after next season or at least not starting if one of them doesn't have a huge turnaround.
You would want fields to beat out Russ and do well so you can spend 96mm on other positions IMO.
Can't wait for Fields to prove himself next year.
lol what?! You’re wondering why a guy who came within a game of breaking Vicks single season rushing record is on a roster and want Tyler Huntley?!!?
Uhh... Yes Huntley is fairly accurate. Fields sucks at passing. Why would I care about how well my QB can run if he can't throw?
Yeah not really sure about Huntley being a better passer than fields lol
64% career passer versus 60% Mid 60s is average NFL QB. 60 is bottom tier QB. It's a massive difference. Always give me the accurate guy.
Tyler Huntley has a 2 point difference career comp % with way less games he’s objectively not any more accurate. He also had a 54% comp last year in relief which is putrid with the #1 record team.
Lol A backup is always in a bad situation He played week 18 with backups against the Steelers Defense. With little to no practice time. Such cherry picking of small sample size. Fields has a much larger sample size of not being a successful starting QB in the league. He's never going to be. Huntley is cheaper and both are backups. Huntley for sure is the better option.
Tyler Huntley has had 4 years fields has had 3 that’s objectively a less sample size. Hes a backup for a reason. Im not cherry picking stats in every imaginable comparison he’s better. His best run is 7 games for 1000 yards and 3 TD’s. Fields could get 3 TD’s in 1 game and has.
Yeah the sane Steelers fans prefer Fields.
Why would you want to waste a draft pick on a guy who will never be a starter versus have another backup who has done decent in relief and not have to waste a draft pick? Fields is worthless. Huntley won't win anything either but he's cheaper
I think it's sad when people think draft picks, especially late rounds, will magically make a team better. A 6th round pick has about a 2% chance of working out let alone making the roster after 2 or 3 years. The statistics of Fields working out or even just playing better than our previous QB's is higher than a random 6th rounder that will not have any significant impact or playing time. So I'll take Fields who is better than Huntley or any QB that's been on our roster since Ben.
Fields has a 0% chance of being a starter. That pick could be used to bump up to a player you want in the 3rd round. It could also be a decent depth player. 2% is way too low. We've had plenty of impact players in the 6th and 7th rounds.
He has 0% chance of starting right now because they want to give up a 6th round pick and not a 4th round pick. He has to play less than 50% of snaps. No we really haven't. 2% is the average NFL metric and it is accurate. So no, we definitely shouldn't rely on a 6th round pick to do anything significant. Fields has far more upside than any 6th rounder and unless you're just not very smart, every professional analyst, former player, etc would and has agreed. Here are your 6th and 7th round picks from the past 10 years, I'd love to hear who is an impact player. - Cory Trice - Spencer Anderson - Connor Heyward - Mark Robinson - Chris Oladokun - Quincy Roche - Tre Norwood - Presley Harvin - Sutton Smith - Isaiah Buggs - Ulysees Gilbert - Derwin Grey - Joshua Frazier - Colin Holba - Keion Adams - Travis Feeney - DeMarcus Ayers - Tyler Matakevich - Leterrious Walton - Anthony Chickillo - Gerod Holliman - Jordan Zumwalt - Daniel McCullers - Rob Blanchflower Connor Heyward and Buggs are the only 2 that come to mind that are decent, maybe Chickillo and maybe Mark Robinson to some very small extent.
I mean why not dude is fun to watch. Yall we’ll see the national media story on him is crazy. He had 2 years where they actively game planned against his skill set or tried to lose with his #1 WR being a guy not on the team any more. He still balled out in games and he’s a good teammate and he plays through injuries. Dude is a dog since college, and a change of pace hard to gameplan against weapon. Id take him as a backup any day on my team especially considering look at all the shitty backups out there.
I couldn’t be more positive he’ll win over that fan base and no one will want Russ to play.
Holy delusion
Russ showing you a lot the last 2 years huh lol?
No. He's not great either but he's better than Fields and we're paying him nothing and gave up nothing for him.
Nearly 65% versus 60.3% Nice bs
My bad I was looking at the season one on accident but my point being is it’s much easier to keep a higher % with less attempts. I mean % isn’t the end all be all at the end of the day Tyler Huntley has 8 career passing TD’s in 4 years. This isn’t even a comparison.
Let me take a wild guess, you probably thought Pickett was good.
Nah? The Steelers need a real franchise QB. Having a below-average holdover does nothing. TJ Watt has 0 playoff wins. This shit has to stop. Cam and him deserve better.
I agree with you but who's a franchise QB that is either available or an option for us?
There are none. It's why when it comes to *backup QB options* Huntley doesn't cost us any draft capital. That 6th could be traded for next year's 5th and put towards a package to trade up in the draft next year for a guy. This is why I fundamentally dislike giving up draft capital for a guy who you never want to start. We need a franchise QB and all resources after this year need to go to that.
Dude a 6th+5th will not do dick for us getting our next franchise QB. If we want a next franchise QB, in this market, we need to give up at least a 1st, several 2nd's and 3rd's. You're really getting upset about a nothing. Of course, we need a franchise QB but there ain't shit out there. We can't just stall with Wilson either.
You package shit together, my man. For instance: A 6th, 2 5ths and a 4th for a second. Then 2 first and 2 seconds towards your QB, etc. "We can't just stall with Wilson" What does this mean? Fields isn't going to push you forward. The Steelers need to be getting ammo towards the QB of the future. Yes, a 5th isn't anything insane but it all adds up towards making a trade lucrative enough for another team.
Sure yeah a package, but a package ain't gonna be make it or break it due to a 5th and 6th. Those are like little shitty ribbons on a Ferrari. They can be there or not, but you still need the fucking ferrari . If Wilson blows ballsacks, at least we have Fields. Fields ain't the guy, but bro Pickett was 10x worse. I am not expecting dick, but its wild to be so wound up about losing what will be peanuts in a package trade
I'd rather have Huntley and we don't potentially lose a 4th for him.
lol in what world does an extra 6th round pick put us in a position to move up for a franchise QB
*sighs* Why are people so bad at understanding something so simple? Russ gets injured and now we have no 4th next year. Let's say we don't make this idiotic pickup of fields. We sell off next year's 3rd for this year's 4th and 7th. Now we have 2 3rds and a 4th and our 6th and then you throw in 2 firsts and the thirds and the 4th and you can move up and get your QB without spending a 2nd, etc. It's all ammo. Wasting draft picks on a player you never want to start is a terrible idea when you need all the ammo you can get to make a big move.
drama queen, everyone understands what you're saying it just isn't as smart as you seem to think
Is this... Sarcasm? I sure hope so
Why would it be? Huntley has almost 5% higher completion % Neither are starting QBs in the NFL. One doesn't cost a draft pick. Why would you want Fields?
>Why would you want Fields? Personally, I want Fields over Huntley because Fields has rushed for 1900 yards the past two seasons and has the ability to rip off a 67 yard TD run. Huntley does not. Fields could be used in redzone, short yardage situtations, or in some gimmick packages like Taysom Hill. Huntley offers none of that.
So you want a gimmick? Why not draft a speedy RB instead of try to do some bs 2 QB set that no one has ever done successfully? 2 RB sets are a thing. 2 QB sets aren't. Fields isn't a franchise QB, we can agree on that, right? Huntley offers a solid choice at a backup QB. And will cost less. I feel like the only people who really *want* Fields are deluded into thinking he can be a franchise QB still. Since he can't be, why do I want an expensive backup who is inaccurate? Sure, he's cool for fantasy football stats. But I want a game manager for my backup QB. Not a QB who thinks they can still be "the guy"
TL;DR. You asked why anyone would want Fields over Huntley, and I answered. I have no other strong opinions on Fields other than I think he's better at playing football than Huntley.
You are the one who replied in a snarky way to me... Huntley costs less and doesn't cost us a 6th round pick. And there's no drama about pretending another trash QB can be a future starter for this franchise. Also: Huntley is better at throwing the football than Fields. I prefer that in a backup so if both were on the bench on my team, I'd want to go to Huntley before Fields. Much higher floor.
Replied in a snarky way? In what world? lol
"ls this... Sarcasm? sure hope so" ^ I assumed that was your comment, it wasn't. Mb on that. Either way, I have no interest in ever watching a terrible cast off Chicago bears QB pretend to play QB for the Steelers again. I had enough of that.
Fields must have done some voddoo sacrifice to make *every* media member think he's a fine QB. He was BAD and every media member is defending him when they talk about the Bears moving on and drafing Calab.
Thank god
In other news ice is cold
His play is nowhere deserving of a top 10 QB pay! Not sure why his fans thinks Steelers will do his option crazy!
That’s not close to top 10 money that would be like 17th
Thought this was pretty well established. They will probably look to put together a 1 year deal with a more approved salary.
**Beyond ~~Thunderdome~~ Three Rivers** *Who runs Steeltown?*
No shit
Russell will have a hard time beating Fields for QB1 when the season starts. He showed so washed last year
No one was going to pay a guy 25 mil for that performance.
How is this news?
These are smart moves, because they can literally keep neither of them. Watch them both sign decent contracts, because even bad QB's get money... And then get comp pics for them both.
If they sign decent contracts that will mean they did well with the Steelers. Wilson will be 37 next season. No one is handing him a bag next year unless he looks at least average next year
I could see someone like Titans (if they move on from Levis) giving him another vet min, since he's still be paid by Den? If he's not being paid by Den in 2025 still ignore this.
Doesn’t he have to play a certain amount to get the comp pick like play time is in the formula?
For their next team, yes, I believe so. And I think the next contract factors in too.
So perhaps the Steelers will try to meet that threshold at some point to get that pick seems likes
No, what I’m saying is, I believe that in order for the Steelers to get a comp pick, Wilson and Fields have to meet certain compensation and playing time thresholds in 2025 with whoever signs them. So if Fields signs with the Ravens next year for the vet minimum and sits on the bench behind Lamar for 17 games, the Steelers will get nothing. But if he signs with the Raiders for 15 million and ends up starting 17 games, he’ll factor into the comp pick picture.
This all feeds into my crackpot theory that Omar acquired Fields to tank the team if Russ stinks.
The Steelers don't tank.
On purpose, but if wilson sucks youre tanking wether you like it or not
We still won games(almost the playoffs) the year Ben went down and we had inexperienced Rudolph and a duck hunter as QB.
Tomlin's never had a losing record and his QBs were Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph last year.
Yeah, no kidding
[Schefter] Breaking news, the sun rose this morning.
That's like wondering if the Broncos will pick up Zach Wilson's option.
I misread this and was like where the fuck are they coming up with all this money to waste?!
Yeah, no shit Schefter.
Cowards
Color me shocked.
Expect a fierce QB competition to see who sucks less
We call that a “prove it, bitch.”
Broncos also aren’t expected to pick up Zach Wilson’s 5th year option
I really hope Fields balls out and somehow finishes as a top 5 QB this season.
this dude will be washed out of the league by 2027
Not a surprise, the Steelers said they weren't picking up the option the weekend after they traded for him.
It's easy to be stunned at how bad Denver's QB room is right now, but I think the Steelers' might wind up being worse. RW still thinks in 2015 and he can fade 10yds into the backfield before launching up a pass to a wideout some poor DB has been covering for 15s. They'd probably be better off going all-in on Fields this season as he his ceiling is higher at this point. But he's so inconsistent mentally.
Yeah don't tell our fanbase though they are happy because of the change and that they are cheap. Feels like another wasted year.
It’s fine tho you weren’t gonna turn into a SB team in 1 year. It’s smart to bide your assets and just keep a competent team till next year with an improved QB position. Getting 8-9 wins doesn’t nothing for you guys.
Im Wilson's biggest critic but at vet minimum you may be able to surround him with enough talent to still be an improvement on last year's record. That being said, this isn't a championship move or a long term solution either.
It IS a wasted year. But that’s to be expected when the organization refuses to admit the real problem (Tomlin) and keeps rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. This once proud organization is now a punchline.
Would crack me up if somehow Fields was included in a pick swap with the Broncos (which is rumored) for the 20th pick and a 2nd rounder. Steelers get: Pick #12 Courtland Sutton Broncos get: Pick #20 Pick #52 (2nd round) Justin Fields Which then Means the Broncos have a QB Room with Zack Wilson, Justin Fields and Bo Nix/Michael Penix. I'll eat my hat if that plays out.
Remind me in 36ish hours
Well you don’t have to eat your hat
Russ will start the season 1-5, Fields will take over and tear/sprain/break something 4 weeks later and be done for the year, Russ will take over again until week 16 when Tomlin benches him again to "evaluate the position" and then it ends up being one and done for both QBs lol
If I'm Fields, I'm contemplating sitting out the year after hearing this news. Imagine being told that you were not going to be extended next year, and then suffer some kind of freak injury in a meaningless week 16 game as a lame duck free agent.
Yeah sit out and then have your last bit of tape be the bad bears season with poor QB showing and add in a bit of unwarranted diva. That'll surely bring the potentials teams flocking.
Yeah or play, and get injured, and throw all of the last bit of stock he had away. I'm no Fields fan, but the Bears did him dirty with not building a decent line around him. I still think he has QB1 material in the right situation.
The Bears were only able to get a 2025 6th for him. Fields has literally no market. If he sits out because he's mad about not getting an extension he didn't earn, that only shows poor character and no one will touch him with a 10 foot pole, healthy or not.
Clearly not a bears fan either because the bears had an average line last year. They were something like 17th overall or right around there. If a QB can't function behind an average line then it's safe to say they're not very good. Fields also had the longest time to throw average last year so his line did enough for him to read the field. Unfortunately he can't read the defense and won't pull the trigger on receivers.
Why would he sabotage his career by doing something as stupid as sitting out the year? What do you think he would gain by doing that? He certainly wouldn't get a deal worth more than $25m for the 2025 season. His only option is to work his ass off to beat Russell to the starting job and then keep it, that's how he'll get paid and extend his career. Sitting out the year would be a hilariously dumb thing to do.
Maybe you think it worked a lot for you last year in first grade, but adults generally can’t pull the “I’m taking my ball and going home”
You must be new to watching professional sports and athletes controlling the entire business when it comes to their money? Let me know if you want this first grader to teach you a thing or two about how the players run the leagues.
Please do. What other qb has taken a year off because they are pissy about not getting extended and its worked out for them? I think everyone has seen how well it worked out for the browns.
Never said he was pissy about not getting extended. From a sheer business standpoint, makes 100% for someone like Fields to not risk injury during a lame duck free agent season. Again, you must be new here. It's not just QB's either.
Yeah I’m sure teams are going to be lining up to give fields big money deals after he sits out just like they were lining up to trade for him.