At the opening of the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this week, it was widely assumed that not only would the Chicago Bears trade quarterback Justin Fields, but the Atlanta Falcons were also the clear frontrunners.
The Scouting Combine concluded on Sunday, and it is expected that Fields will be traded within the next week or two. However, the Falcons may no longer be the frontrunner.
The Falcons may be prioritizing their pursuit of Kirk Cousins before making a trade for Fields.
For the time being, the Falcons have taken a backseat in the Fields market, and a new club has emerged. ESPN’s Adam Schefter listed the Pittsburgh Steelers as a potential trade partner for Fields.
Earlier this offseason, reports suggested that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is a big supporter of Fields and may be the catalyst for a transaction between the two clubs.
There have been reports about what the Steelers intend to do with the quarterback position this offseason. While it appears that the Steelers are not ready to give up on former first-round selection Kenny Pickett, there may also be an admission that Pickett cannot enter the 2024 season as the team’s unquestioned starting quarterback.
The Steelers may be able to acquire Fields for a second-round pick and a conditional future-round pick, since the cost of doing so appears to be decreasing with each passing day. That cost would not be so high that Fields should be immediately installed as the team’s starting quarterback, but it would allow him to compete with Pickett during training camp. Of course.
