Justin Fields Ought to Have ‘Record Of Questions’ For Steelers Earlier than Agreeing To Return, Says Reporter

The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite a lot of inquiries to reply this offseason. One of many greatest ones offers with their quarterback room. Each beginning quarterbacks from 2024, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, are pending free brokers. So will both of them be again in 2025?

Head coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t essentially the most forthcoming throughout his end-of-season press convention about the way forward for both quarterback. However he did communicate properly of Fields and appeared to say that Fields may discover himself within the combine to start out in 2025. So will Fields be again in Pittsburgh? And will he be the starter? Nicely, that will depend upon whether or not Fields needs to be again.

Jeff Hathhorn, 93.7 The Fan’s sports activities director, joined the Fan Morning Present on Thursday to debate Fields’ future with the Steelers.

“If I’m Fields, I’ve an inventory of questions I need answered,” stated Hathhorn. “Are we going to proceed to play passive? What’s the cope with George [Pickens]? Who’s our extensive receiver corps for subsequent 12 months? Who else are you bringing in [at quarterback]? Are you going to inform me I’ve a contest, but you’re gonna herald Russell Wilson once more otherwise you’re gonna get Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, and right here I’m once more, and I’m going to have to sit down once more whilst you publicly say it’s a contest however it’s not?

“That’s what I need answered if I’m Justin. Neglect whether or not the Steelers need him. I feel Fields must get these questions answered, as a result of how may you wish to play for a system that performs to not lose? That doesn’t exit and attempt to get it offensively, however eh, let’s simply see if we are able to maintain onto the soccer and kick six subject objectives?”

That’s quite a lot of questions. However Hathhorn makes some good factors. Fields didn’t turn into a quarterback to simply be a recreation supervisor. Who doesn’t dream of throwing the soccer throughout en path to profitable a Tremendous Bowl? And who goals of merely handing the ball off and checking the ball down? As a result of in Fields’ six begins, he solely tried 30 or extra passes twice. And when you drop that quantity to 25 or extra, it solely provides another recreation to the listing.

That signifies that Fields tried lower than 25 passes in half his begins. For comparability, Russell Wilson tried 30 or extra passes in 5 of his 11 begins, together with within the playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. And he solely had one recreation this 12 months the place he tried lower than 25 passes, the Steelers’ 27-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

It actually looks like the Steelers merely didn’t belief Fields to “get it offensively” as Hathhorn put it. In truth, when you have a look at a few of the superior stats, Fields had his fewest Supposed Air Yards Per Go Try in his profession this season at 7.7. Meaning he wasn’t pushing the ball down the sector like he was in Chicago. And that’s presupposed to be one in every of his robust fits. So would Fields wish to run that again in 2025?

And would Fields wish to play with a gaggle of extensive receivers like this 12 months’s corps? Sure, the Steelers pursued upgrades within the type of San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk and doubtlessly New York Jets WR Davante Adams. However they failed and routinely trotted out WR Van Jefferson to take significant snaps. Even the midseason addition of WR Mike Williams didn’t make a huge impact. Wilson solely focused Williams 13 instances regardless of Williams showing in 9 video games in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers actually must improve at extensive receiver no matter who the quarterback is in 2025. However Fields will definitely need assurances that the Steelers are dedicated to spending sources on the place.

After which there’s the matter of who else the Steelers will herald at quarterback. Various individuals have referred to as for the Steelers to pursue New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers if he turns into accessible. Hathhorn additionally mentions Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, who has been supplanted by Michael Penix Jr. in Atlanta. Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold might be an choice as properly.

And any of these choices, particularly Rodgers and Cousins, would instantly slot in forward of Fields on the depth chart.

So Justin Fields actually has some severe inquiries to ask common supervisor Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin after they sit down this offseason. And that may go a great distance towards figuring out whether or not he needs to be again in Pittsburgh. Will the Steelers wish to carry him again? Albert Breer thinks it’s extra possible the Steelers would carry Fields again than Wilson, however solely time will inform.