Justin Fields Rumors: Steelers Picking Up $25.7M Contract Option Would Be an 'Upset'

The Pittsburgh Steelers picking up quarterback Justin Fields' $25.7 million fifth-year option ahead of the 2024 season doesn't appear likely, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"They just traded for Justin Fields; they haven't even gotten him in and had him work in their offense yet," Schefter said during a Monday appearance on SportsCenter. "And he is slated right now to be their No. 2 quarterback. Most people around the league believe that it would be an upset right now if the Steelers were to pick up that fifth-year option in advance.

"It doesn't mean that they couldn't retain his services. They would obviously have the franchise tag available if he played for them this season and played well, they obviously would want to move forward with him and be interested in doing a long-term deal. But the fifth-year option, guaranteeing him that [$25.7 million], seems ambitious in the eyes of people around the league right now."

Pittsburgh has until May 2 to make a decision on the fifth-year option.

The Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears on Saturday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. He's expected to serve as Pittsburgh's backup quarterback in 2024 after the team signed former Denver Broncos signal-caller Russell Wilson.

It's clear to see why Steelers general manager Omar Khan is hesitant to pay a backup quarterback just under $26 million, although Fields may develop into a future starter. After all, Wilson only signed a one-year deal with the team and will be 36 years old by the end of the 2024 regular season.

On Feb. 12, Schefter noted on The Pat McAfee Show that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is a "big fan" of Fields. If Wilson ends up leaving after his 2024 campaign with the team, Tomlin could prefer to keep the former Bears passer under center instead of looking at outside options in free agency or the draft.

The move to acquire Fields came as a surprise to many, as it originally appeared as though Pittsburgh would enter the year with former starter Kenny Pickett adjusting to a reserve role. However, the Steelers ended up trading Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles, which created a vacancy behind Wilson after the offseason departures of Mason Rudolph and Mitchell Trubisky.

Fields seemed to find a bit more consistency as a passer in 2023, as his 61.4 completion percentage, 227 completions and 197.1 yards per game through the air all represented career-high marks. He added 657 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, although it came as a slight disappointment after recording an impressive 1,143 rush yards in 2022.

While a long-term deal with the organization isn't out of the question by any means, the Steelers accepting his fifth-year option in advance of the deadline doesn't seem likely.