Despite recent reports that the Atlanta Falcons are “close to finalizing a deal” for Justin Fields, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers still remain “on the radar” for the Chicago Bears quarterback.
“The major quarterback domino that many are waiting to fall is Chicago’s Justin Fields decision,” Fowler and Graziano wrote in their March 3 NFL Combine buzz column. “Chicago has not played its hand, and several league sources believe Fields — who has not requested a trade — could probably garner a Day 2 pick in a potential deal.”
Early speculation of a first-round pick has fizzled out, leaving the option for the Steelers to trade for him more doable. Of course, not one of Pittsburgh’s brass has breathed Fields’ name publicly. They’ve never been an organization to tip their hand on a specific player, only that they’re looking to bring in competition for Kenny Pickett.
“There’s no firm deadline on a trade, though the start of free agency is sort of a soft one. Chicago will need multiple teams in the fray to drive a market, and after asking around, I expect Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Minnesota to be on the radar.”
It appears the team still most firmly linked to Fields is the Falcons, with Fowler and Grazino reporting: “There’s plenty of smoke around Atlanta and Fields.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers insider Gerry Dulac has reported on several occasions that said competition won’t be a quarterback who is a sure-fire starter. If that accurately represents how Mike Tomlin, Art Rooney and Arthur Smith feel, Fields won’t be sporting the black and gold anytime soon.
It’s so tough to trust what anyone says this time of year, though.
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