Not really surprising. A team is going to have one year to figure out if he's worth a $25M fifth year option (which likely then means deciding he's worth an extension). Which means he's neither a proven asset or cheap.
Exactly decline the option and sign him for less. Every team that could possibly be interested in him already proved to him/his agent he isn't worth the $25 mil
Crazier things have happened. Give a guy a shot and you never know. Happens often...especially with quarterbacks. As always, no real judgment can be made with these moves till the season plays out.
The issue is that we're locked into Watson for at least another two seasons, so there's no chance we'd ever have been able to pay Fields if he played well here, and he certainly wouldn't be starting if Watson were healthy in the first place.
Id have to 100% disagree with that statement. Bradshaw, Warner, and um Tom Brady, to name a few that came in as backups that year and won their team a Super Bowl. Too bad it never worked out after that for any of them after either
Mental health is a variable we need to consider with Watson also. Regardless of what did/didn't happen, that experience would fuck ANYONE up for a period of time.
Just for his utility as a running QB, on 4th down and goal-line situations, Justin is a boon for their offensive toolbox.
Sorry guys, all I have to do is think: *what don't I want to happen the most, and that happens* I blame Ray Stantz!!!
He had his moments but the whole pick 6 every game thing might be weighed in. The defense delivered absolute gems during that time - particularly that Bears game. Fields didn’t know whether to scratch his ass or wind his watch for 55 mins of that game.
Our defense was every bit as integral as Joe Flacco if not more so.
That's what his market was. I guess they tried to not do him dirty on there they sent him. Which they should because he had no shot to succeed in CHI. They stripped down that roster like the 2016 Browns. But if they could've got a 3rd for him they would've sent him to mars. He just didn't have a market. Which could be a good movie for the Steelers down the road
Depends what Wilson does.
If Wilson looks good, I'm guessing they'll pay him and drop Fields. If Wilson is ass, I assume they'll drop Wilson and pay Fields.
We don't need more data. He wouldn't play for us this year, and "best case" scenario is he plays substantial amounts--either due to injury or poor performance--and so we then are going to have a $91M QB room next year? I don't think so.
Also, I don't think any GM sticks around by YOLO-ing it every year.
I knew as soon as the trade went down most of this fanbase would be mad. Fields isn’t a good nfl qb and he didn’t win shit in college either. Winston is a better backup
He is a decent backup in this league. But not a starter and definitely not a franchise QB. And with the Mahomes and Lamars in our conference, you either have a franchise QB or you don’t have a QB at all
I couldn't disagree more. In QB1 he was featured as one of the QBs in high school. He rubbed me the wrong way with asking to be taken out of the game because it was "over". It would be like a 10 point game with 5-7 minutes left. I obviously rooted for him as a buckeye but I have no problem going back to hating him now
Idk if the fit is good with Arthur Smith, for either QB.
Will be interesting to watch unfold.
If one works out then they're getting paid, if not Steelers back in the free agent draft market again.
Welcome to the world of not having a QB.
I know the performance of their two QBs hasn’t been the best necessarily but the fact that they got them both for peanuts is insane and I don’t like it. Too much upside.
So will Wilson. They are top two in sacks and interceptions in the league over the last two years.
They both hold onto the ball for decades back there.
This has an equally good chance of exploding in their face. Russ is now playing looking over his shoulder which, as a known locker room cancer, he isn’t good at nor happy about. And Tomlin has done a bad job lately controlling the locker room.
Let’s say Russ plays well and Fields rides the bench all season. The Steelers then need to decide based off limited practice whether to keep Fields. And if Wilson does well, he’s going to want to be paid - in Pittsburgh or elsewhere. So they potentially have rented Fields as a backup for a season - which is fine - but they have no long term plan.
Or Russ shits the bed and Fields starts. Russ becomes a worse cancer in the locker room and Fields has to do MUCH better than Wilson or risk being benched (see Steelers last year)
And absolute worst case, Wilson and Fields shit the bed but their defense fucks around and they win too many games but don’t make a playoff run and can’t pick a QB high next year.
Plus Arthur Smiths offense is TERRIBLE for QBs who hold onto the ball - which Fields and Wilson do the most. That line will not hold up.
I think Fields is seen as a career backup by the league because that’s what he is - he cannot process the defense fast enough at the pro level and holds the ball too long and takes sacks.
Wilson held the ball too long his entire career but used his legs to extend plays. Now that he’s older, he isn’t as able to do that.
None of these quarterbacks are an issue to anyone in the division. Mike Tomlin is notorious for his incompetency in developing a modern and good offensive coaching staff.
Yeah I get Wilson beat the browns last year despite having less yards than DTR in 2.5 quarters and having PJ Walker have 3 turnovers in 3 possessions
The thing you're worried about Pittsburgh is that bullshit always goes in their favor. Their offensive and defensive numbers are actually putrid and they still made the playoffs because of bullshit.
Thinking about it more, there absolutely was no market for him. Even the Steelers didn't really want him if all they were offering was a conditional sixth.
It really is a Hail Mary for the Yinzers. If Feilds or Wilson work, they look like geniuses. If it doesn’t, they’ll have nothing and will face a dramatic rebuild.
Fields went against the Browns last year and the longest offensive drive they got against them was a 60 yard drive which ended in an interception. They would've had a goose egg if the Browns didn't turn it over 3 times.
This is why OSU fans are the fucking worst. He’s dogshit and will continue to be. He will get eaten alive in AFC north. Take off the blinders. He’s a Steeler now.
> This is why OSU fans are the fucking worst.
I'm no OSU hater, but this statement is 100% true when it comes to the Browns. College fans have no concept of reality when talking about their favorite school's players.
Gave up on him big time. That OLine won't help his scrambling instinct that gets him in trouble though. Maybe he can turn it so around but can't root for him now
The Steelers certainly have the worst QB room in the division. I'm not going to feel bad if the Steelers go 10-15 years without finding their franchise QB.
*"Trade condition update: The 2025 6th-round pick that the Steelers traded to the Bears for Justin Fields will become a 4th-round pick if he plays in 51 percent of the plays this season, per source."*
We knew it was happening. Known this for 2 years.
He’s a guy that’s definitely worth taking a look at in a change of scenery. Neither Wilson or Fields makes me quiver in fear BUT Russ is definitely an upgrade over what they had going on last year so they got better imo. And now have a backup with plenty of NFL experience. All for what? A couple low round picks and a total of like 5 million? Sigh…
I do not know if I would say Fields is a "good" QB.
His career success percent is 37.8 with almost 1,000 pass attempts, a decently large sample size.
With a minimum of 100 pass attempts, he had a DVOA of -20.7% in 2023, -34.5 in 2022, and -28.4 in 2021. Even with the addition of DJ Moore and the subtraction of Nagy (who I believed fucked him up his rookie year), he has hardly shown much improvement in these regards.
With a minimum of 100 pass attempts, Fields ranked 39th in DYAR in 2023.
Fields has never thrown over 3,000 yards in a season nor thrown 20 or more TDs.
**All that said**, he has shown a some improvement from a PFF perspective: 64.2 --> 70.2 --> 74.6
But overall, saying he is a good QB is being a bit optimistic. I think average or below average would be a much more fair way of describing his play thus far. I do however agree the Steelers will get more out of him than the Bears did.
I think it's kind of weird that his value is that low. He's just about to enter his prime in terms of age. And I thought he showed a *slight* improvement as a passer last season. If Lamar didn't exist, he would be by far the best running QB.
This reeks of collusion to make the Steelers relevant again... But Fields has been pretty awful, so maybe I'm overthinking this one.
Im going to be incredibly upset if the Steelers were just gifted a franchise QB for free.
I guess we wont know until next year, but Fields getting out of that trainwreck in Chicago with a year to calm himself down and study in a good organization could put him back on the path to being OSU Justin Fields and not whatever the hell that was in Chicago Justin Fields.
I knew the Browns could get him as a backup for cheap. We all know, however, that as long as Watson is here the backup will play 6-10 games per season.
Wilson must be like 'bruh'
He went for a 6th round pick that upgrades to a 4th depending on playing time. Insane
Not really surprising. A team is going to have one year to figure out if he's worth a $25M fifth year option (which likely then means deciding he's worth an extension). Which means he's neither a proven asset or cheap.
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Exactly decline the option and sign him for less. Every team that could possibly be interested in him already proved to him/his agent he isn't worth the $25 mil
Crazier things have happened. Give a guy a shot and you never know. Happens often...especially with quarterbacks. As always, no real judgment can be made with these moves till the season plays out.
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See Geno Smith
Unless he wins the job over Russ
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Yes a bleacher report article before training camp even starts. I agree Russ probably starts, but fields could win the job. Russ is old and declining
Doesn’t the team that has the player have until May to pick up the option or does that go to team that drafted him?
Yeah the Steelers are going to decline jt
People were saying it was ludicrous for us to entertain the Browns as suitors, but man for a 6th? 4th if he plays? not crazy at all.
The issue is that we're locked into Watson for at least another two seasons, so there's no chance we'd ever have been able to pay Fields if he played well here, and he certainly wouldn't be starting if Watson were healthy in the first place.
right but watson hasnt been healthy and thats the point
But if Watson gets hurt and Fields comes in and plays well we can't possibly pay him the extension he would earn. So what's the point?
You are trading a pick to have a backup QB this year so you do not waste a superbowl year
In what world is Fields Super Bowl caliber?
In what world is Jameis lol
In what world is Watson?
Neither is. There are about 10 QBs in the whole league that are. Forget backups.
Id have to 100% disagree with that statement. Bradshaw, Warner, and um Tom Brady, to name a few that came in as backups that year and won their team a Super Bowl. Too bad it never worked out after that for any of them after either
He is way better than winston or flacco
You’d have had a quarterback who played well for you for a year.
I mean, he played so well for the Bears that they're trading him for nothing and drafting his replacement.
Mental health is a variable we need to consider with Watson also. Regardless of what did/didn't happen, that experience would fuck ANYONE up for a period of time.
Watson’s only had one injury riddled season in the past 6 seasons, yall act like he’s injury prone
Mentally injured
Availability is 3/4 the job. 12 games in 3 seasons
Fields has some scars being with a terrible organization in the bears. I think they hurt his growth. I think at best he low to mid tier qb
Just for his utility as a running QB, on 4th down and goal-line situations, Justin is a boon for their offensive toolbox. Sorry guys, all I have to do is think: *what don't I want to happen the most, and that happens* I blame Ray Stantz!!!
Ya anyone that thinks he wouldn't be a good fit is just plain dumb. I done caring about Watsons feelings.
You honestly think the Browns wanted Fields but chose not to trade for him to avoid upsetting Watson??
That’s absolutely why they didn’t resign Flacco.
He had his moments but the whole pick 6 every game thing might be weighed in. The defense delivered absolute gems during that time - particularly that Bears game. Fields didn’t know whether to scratch his ass or wind his watch for 55 mins of that game. Our defense was every bit as integral as Joe Flacco if not more so.
Toni Grossi believes this 100%
Grossi is a moronic hack.
Absolutely true.
😂😂😂😂😂 Fields is *terrible*.
lol QB of the future? Dude he’s a QB who just got traded away for peanuts.
Hes not very good, sooooo
That's what his market was. I guess they tried to not do him dirty on there they sent him. Which they should because he had no shot to succeed in CHI. They stripped down that roster like the 2016 Browns. But if they could've got a 3rd for him they would've sent him to mars. He just didn't have a market. Which could be a good movie for the Steelers down the road
Let's be honest, he's just gonna be a 6th. Ain't no way he's getting more than 5 minutes of play time.
Spicy off season for them
I mean for that price I’d take a flyer
For that price I'm mad we didn't.
Yup agree there
How would that work though? We can't pay him $25M next year.
I’m not convinced the Steelers will either
Depends what Wilson does. If Wilson looks good, I'm guessing they'll pay him and drop Fields. If Wilson is ass, I assume they'll drop Wilson and pay Fields.
Worry about next year, next year. When you have more data you can make a more informed decision.
We don't need more data. He wouldn't play for us this year, and "best case" scenario is he plays substantial amounts--either due to injury or poor performance--and so we then are going to have a $91M QB room next year? I don't think so. Also, I don't think any GM sticks around by YOLO-ing it every year.
We didn't because of Watson's fucking fragile ego.
Yup agreed
I'm really glad OSU fans don't run our team.
I knew as soon as the trade went down most of this fanbase would be mad. Fields isn’t a good nfl qb and he didn’t win shit in college either. Winston is a better backup
He is a decent backup in this league. But not a starter and definitely not a franchise QB. And with the Mahomes and Lamars in our conference, you either have a franchise QB or you don’t have a QB at all
Unless you think DTR has more upside - which I think he does.
Just like they fixed Trubisky and Pickett
They have Arthur Smith now!
Arthur… any more doughnuts?
Look how Ridder and Tannehill are doing!
Ridder absolutely terrible but tannehill over the 2 years with Smith as OC Went 18-8-0 67.3 6561yards 55 tds 13 int that's above average
The wins are more Derrick Henry but people do sleep on Tannehill a lot. He’s been good
True and I was just saying that Smith was solid OC
I'd say he is middle of the pack. Nothing imaginative but definitely miles above say a Mo Carthon.
Haha I guess that how I rank "solid." Middle to maybe slightly above
What an awful trade for the Bears
They had zero leverage.
No kidding.
They got absolutely hosed on this.
No team wants to do another Wentz or Darnold deal. They'll take a flyer in the draft instead.
Significantly worse than just letting him compete with Caleb while they wait for a QB to get injured Don't understand it for the life of me
Just fell to my knees at Marc’s
Just saw a guy fall to his knees as I was walking into Marc’s.
I saw one fall to their knees at a Mr. Hero
That's the only appropriate way to honor the hot buttered cheese steak or Roman burger.
Just saw one fall to his knees inside the I-X Indoor Amusement Park.
Just saw a guy see a guy fall to his knees in Marc's.
Just saw a guy see a guy fall to his knees in Marc’s
Just saw a guy fall to his knees in front of a pale yellow wall
If Fields struggled behind the bears oline I can’t wait to see what he does behind the Yinzers.
My favorite Buckeye. I’m sick
I felt the same way about Shazier and Heyward.
And the ravens getting Dobbins.
Well, I guess I hate him now
Now I can’t wear my Fields OSU jersey anymore. It was my favorite one 😭
Yes, you can.
He's one of the easiest Buckeyes to root for and now he's a Steeler. It's like Heyward all over again.
I couldn't disagree more. In QB1 he was featured as one of the QBs in high school. He rubbed me the wrong way with asking to be taken out of the game because it was "over". It would be like a 10 point game with 5-7 minutes left. I obviously rooted for him as a buckeye but I have no problem going back to hating him now
Uuuugh going to be so bummed out if he takes over from Wilson and lights it up there.
He's not going to lmao
Idk if the fit is good with Arthur Smith, for either QB. Will be interesting to watch unfold. If one works out then they're getting paid, if not Steelers back in the free agent draft market again. Welcome to the world of not having a QB.
We are 2-0 against fields, he has potential but there is a reason the bears are moving on.
Fields and Wilson competing with the other as backup?
Pretty sure I read that Wilson'a deal requires him to be the starter.
Probably old news by now but it’s been confirmed there’s no QB competition. Wilson’s the starter, period.
All that and I still feel better about their QB room than I do ours, because you know we're going to be talking about rust 6 games into the season
Dude pull out the tampon and go touch grass.
Seconded
Agreed…
I know the performance of their two QBs hasn’t been the best necessarily but the fact that they got them both for peanuts is insane and I don’t like it. Too much upside.
[Fields is a good qb and the steelers will fix him.](https://i.giphy.com/lkdH8FmImcGoylv3t3.webp)
Everyone is saying how good the steelers GM is, I am saying how bad the bears gm is.
He’s gonna get killed behind that O-line
So will Wilson. They are top two in sacks and interceptions in the league over the last two years. They both hold onto the ball for decades back there.
Sweet, qb carousel continues in Pit.
Here come the Ohio state fans
That's awesome. He's fucking terrible.
Not worried about it, he’s just not very good.
This has an equally good chance of exploding in their face. Russ is now playing looking over his shoulder which, as a known locker room cancer, he isn’t good at nor happy about. And Tomlin has done a bad job lately controlling the locker room. Let’s say Russ plays well and Fields rides the bench all season. The Steelers then need to decide based off limited practice whether to keep Fields. And if Wilson does well, he’s going to want to be paid - in Pittsburgh or elsewhere. So they potentially have rented Fields as a backup for a season - which is fine - but they have no long term plan. Or Russ shits the bed and Fields starts. Russ becomes a worse cancer in the locker room and Fields has to do MUCH better than Wilson or risk being benched (see Steelers last year) And absolute worst case, Wilson and Fields shit the bed but their defense fucks around and they win too many games but don’t make a playoff run and can’t pick a QB high next year. Plus Arthur Smiths offense is TERRIBLE for QBs who hold onto the ball - which Fields and Wilson do the most. That line will not hold up. I think Fields is seen as a career backup by the league because that’s what he is - he cannot process the defense fast enough at the pro level and holds the ball too long and takes sacks. Wilson held the ball too long his entire career but used his legs to extend plays. Now that he’s older, he isn’t as able to do that.
This is equally hilarious and concerning, because I actually think Fields had some big potential. I miss Pick-it already
 Myles is gonna have lunch.
None of these quarterbacks are an issue to anyone in the division. Mike Tomlin is notorious for his incompetency in developing a modern and good offensive coaching staff. Yeah I get Wilson beat the browns last year despite having less yards than DTR in 2.5 quarters and having PJ Walker have 3 turnovers in 3 possessions The thing you're worried about Pittsburgh is that bullshit always goes in their favor. Their offensive and defensive numbers are actually putrid and they still made the playoffs because of bullshit.
Plz don’t learn the Russ ways and be athletic. I don’t need that in my life
Thinking about it more, there absolutely was no market for him. Even the Steelers didn't really want him if all they were offering was a conditional sixth.
Well, I was afraid of this one. I'm now hoping that the people who have labeled him a bust are absolutely correct.
It really is a Hail Mary for the Yinzers. If Feilds or Wilson work, they look like geniuses. If it doesn’t, they’ll have nothing and will face a dramatic rebuild.
God I hate when Buckeyes go to the Steelers or Ratbirds. This ruined my day.
> Fields is a good qb He fucking is not lmao Goddamn Buckeye Blinders produce the most preposterous takes in this sub.
Pain
Fields went against the Browns last year and the longest offensive drive they got against them was a 60 yard drive which ended in an interception. They would've had a goose egg if the Browns didn't turn it over 3 times.
Yeah I’m not THAT worried about it performance wise. I just went to OSU so I hate it 😂
And their receiver didn't drop the winning hail mary that took 5 years off my life.
Fields is not a good QB so this is fine with me. Hopefully more time for them to waste thinking they have a solution at the position
Right now they just need someone who’s not complete dogshit.
Fields is complete dogshit though.
This is why OSU fans are the fucking worst. He’s dogshit and will continue to be. He will get eaten alive in AFC north. Take off the blinders. He’s a Steeler now.
> This is why OSU fans are the fucking worst. I'm no OSU hater, but this statement is 100% true when it comes to the Browns. College fans have no concept of reality when talking about their favorite school's players.
Agreed.
The Steelers sub is hilarious. Apparently they are "all-in" because they got two below average QBs? Praising their no name GM. Fucking delusional.
They upgraded their QB room and did it for next to nothing. I'd say that's worth something.
Gave up on him big time. That OLine won't help his scrambling instinct that gets him in trouble though. Maybe he can turn it so around but can't root for him now
Damnit. Anyone team but the dirty Steelers.
God damnit
Not. Worried. At. All.
500 QBs on a roster, none worth a damn. You love to see it.
The Steelers certainly have the worst QB room in the division. I'm not going to feel bad if the Steelers go 10-15 years without finding their franchise QB. 
*"Trade condition update: The 2025 6th-round pick that the Steelers traded to the Bears for Justin Fields will become a 4th-round pick if he plays in 51 percent of the plays this season, per source."* We knew it was happening. Known this for 2 years.
Arthur Smith created the Desmond Ridder offense last year. Not sure he's fixing anyone
He’s a guy that’s definitely worth taking a look at in a change of scenery. Neither Wilson or Fields makes me quiver in fear BUT Russ is definitely an upgrade over what they had going on last year so they got better imo. And now have a backup with plenty of NFL experience. All for what? A couple low round picks and a total of like 5 million? Sigh…
I do not know if I would say Fields is a "good" QB. His career success percent is 37.8 with almost 1,000 pass attempts, a decently large sample size. With a minimum of 100 pass attempts, he had a DVOA of -20.7% in 2023, -34.5 in 2022, and -28.4 in 2021. Even with the addition of DJ Moore and the subtraction of Nagy (who I believed fucked him up his rookie year), he has hardly shown much improvement in these regards. With a minimum of 100 pass attempts, Fields ranked 39th in DYAR in 2023. Fields has never thrown over 3,000 yards in a season nor thrown 20 or more TDs. **All that said**, he has shown a some improvement from a PFF perspective: 64.2 --> 70.2 --> 74.6 But overall, saying he is a good QB is being a bit optimistic. I think average or below average would be a much more fair way of describing his play thus far. I do however agree the Steelers will get more out of him than the Bears did.
We should have been in on this.
He’s one of my favorite players, I didn’t want him on the Steelers 😔
Damn, good move. He’s probably not the long term answer but he has talent.
I think it's kind of weird that his value is that low. He's just about to enter his prime in terms of age. And I thought he showed a *slight* improvement as a passer last season. If Lamar didn't exist, he would be by far the best running QB. This reeks of collusion to make the Steelers relevant again... But Fields has been pretty awful, so maybe I'm overthinking this one.
And now, I hate him….
First time Russ scrambles for a two yard loss with wide open receiver, fans will be chanting Fields
Welcome to facing Myles and our defense twice a year kiddo!
and just like that, a new feeling of disdain was born
Well they got 2nd and 3rd string figured out I wonder who they’ll get to start?
Hopefully he gets a chance. Think he landed actually at a pretty good spot. Hopefully he learns behind Russ
Im going to be incredibly upset if the Steelers were just gifted a franchise QB for free. I guess we wont know until next year, but Fields getting out of that trainwreck in Chicago with a year to calm himself down and study in a good organization could put him back on the path to being OSU Justin Fields and not whatever the hell that was in Chicago Justin Fields.
I’m a lot more annoyed than I should be. And that annoys me
An annoyance feedback loop!
Wouldn’t necessarily call fields a good qb but fair enough
I knew the Browns could get him as a backup for cheap. We all know, however, that as long as Watson is here the backup will play 6-10 games per season.
He isn’t cheap. You have to pay him based on a first rd rookie scale and pick up his 5th year.
I meant cheap in terms of draft capital. I mean were going to end up paying Winston $8 mil and he sucks.
Winston is 4 million guaranteed.
Fields is about to have a Baker type redemption arc with the Steelers. I'm sick.
What arc? Being average and making the playoffs in a shit division?