Justin Fields Reveals Raiders, Ravens, Chargers Eyed Trade Before Steelers Deal

Quarterback Justin Fields divulged this week that multiple teams spoke with the Chicago Bears about trading for him during the offseason before he was ultimately dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Speaking on Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward's Not Just Football podcast (h/t Glenn Erby of Ravens Wire), Fields named the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers as teams that expressed interest in him:

"I'm not sure of all the teams, but there were a lot of teams that already had solidified quarterbacks and I didn't want to do that. Chargers were one, Ravens were another. Raiders, they talked a little bit. I don't know too much. Who else was in there I don't know, but a lot of teams had solidified quarterbacks who just got new contracts so I didn't want to be there."

The Steelers ended up landing Fields in exchange for a conditional 2025 second-round pick, and while he was initially tabbed to begin the season as the backup, a calf injury suffered by starter Russell Wilson resulted in Fields starting the first three games of the season and leading Pittsburgh to a 3-0 record.

Of the teams Fields mentioned, he almost certainly wouldn't have had a chance to get any playing time with the Ravens or Chargers, barring injury.

The Ravens are led by reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, while the Chargers have $262.5 million invested in Justin Herbert on the five-year extension he signed with the team in 2023.

However, the Raiders may have been a different story since they did not add a big-name quarterback during the offseason.

Vegas returned 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell from last year's team and also signed veteran Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal.

Through three games this season, Minshew has thrown for 747 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions for the 1-2 Raiders, leading to speculation that a quarterback change could soon be in the offing.

The Steelers have proved to be the ideal landing spot for Fields thus far, though, as he has been supported by the league's most dominant defense.

He has been more efficient than ever before in completing 73.3 percent of his passes for 518 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing for 90 yards and one score on 28 carries.

After the Bears selected him 11th overall in the 2021 NFL draft out of Ohio State, Fields often showed flashes of brilliance, including when he rushed for 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, but he went just 10-28 as a starter in Chicago.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to have found the winning formula with Fields under center, although it is unclear how much longer he will get the opportunity to start.

Wilson was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, which has been the case for him ever since the start of the season.

Tomlin did name Wilson the started quarterback before he aggravated his calf injury, which suggests he is the coach's preferred choice, but if Fields continues to pile up wins, it may be difficult to go away from him.

Assuming Wilson either doesn't play or serves in a backup capacity, Fields will have an opportunity to get the Steelers off to a 4-0 start Sunday when they go on the road to face the Indianapolis Colts.